A child's cardiac arrest is overwhelmingly respiratory in origin, a direct result of anatomy and physiology, not attitude. Walk the mechanism and the treatment follows.
Tidal volume is 10-15 mL/kg, oxygen demand per kilogram runs twice an adult's, and lung oxygen reserve is smaller to begin with. Put those three together: hypoxia develops fast with apnea or ineffective bagging, since a child burns through reserve at double the rate on half the tank. Ventilate a child with a bag of no less than 450-500 mL: err toward the larger bag, and use only enough force for the chest to rise slightly. Too much pressure causes a pneumothorax.
A larger surface-to-mass ratio and thinner skin mean faster, deeper burns and faster fluid and heat loss. Prevent hypothermia even in a burn patient, cold limits resuscitation and impairs clotting.
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