If the infant's heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute with poor perfusion, what should you do?

When an infant's heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute and there are signs of poor perfusion, initiating CPR is essential. A heart rate below 60 in this context indicates severe bradycardia, which often suggests that the infant is not effectively circulating blood and is at risk for cardiac arrest. Poor perfusion means that the organs are not receiving adequate blood flow, which can lead to life-threatening consequences.

By starting CPR, you are providing critical chest compressions that help maintain blood flow to vital organs, thereby increasing the chances of restoring a normal heart rhythm and improving the infant’s overall condition. It’s also important to remember that in infants, high-quality CPR involves gentle yet effective chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, along with appropriate rescue breaths if trained to do so.

Calling for emergency assistance and monitoring are also important steps in a BLS scenario but should follow the immediate action of starting CPR in cases of severe bradycardia with poor perfusion. It’s crucial to remember that rapid intervention is key to survival in pediatric emergencies.