Anatomy and Physiology
This primary muscle is responsible for breathing in neonates.
What is the diaphragm?
(PEARS)
The most common cause of bradycardia in a neonate.
What is Hypoxia or Respiratory failure? (Weiner, 2016)
This airway difference in neonates and infants requires EMS providers to use a neutral or slightly sniffing position instead of excessive head tilt.
What is a proportionally larger occiput?
(Caroline, 2021)
This assessment triangle is used to assess pediatric patients.
What is PAT (Caroline, 2021)
In pediatrics, this vital sign change indicates that compensated shock has failed
What is hypotension?
(Caroline, 2021)
This anatomical difference makes a child's airway more easily obstructed by the tongue compared to adults.
What is a relatively larger tongue in proportion to the mouth?
(Home | AAP, n.d.)
This condition usually starts presenting when the neonate/infant is between 3-6 weeks old. This condition causes the patient to projectile vomit immediately after feeding.
What is Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
In pediatric patients, this is the preferred method for rapid vascular access in emergencies when IV access is difficult.
What is intraosseous (IO) access?
(Caroline, 2021)
When assessing a pediatric patient using this reversed technique can help to build trust.
What is toe to head assessment (Caroline, 2021)
This causes children to deteriorate faster than adults in respiratory distress
What is higher oxygen demand?
(Caroline, 2021)
This anatomical characteristic of pediatrics causes our instructor to refer to them as "Lawn darts".
What is a disproportionately large head compared to the rest of the body.
(Caroline, 2021)
This infection causes bulging fontanelles, seizures, feeding intolerance, neck stiffness, lethargy and sometimes coma and death in neonates.
What is neonatal meningitis?
(Bundy et al., 2023)
Due to this physiological characteristic, neonates are more prone to rapid heat loss and require aggressive temperature management in the field.
What is a high body surface area-to-mass ratio?
(Lunze & Hamer, 2012)
A newborn breathing at a rate of 15, shallow and irregular, but otherwise ‘normal’
What is an APGAR score of 9? (Brown, 2025)
This shunting vessel in fetal circulation allows blood to bypass the babies lungs before birthbut closes shortly after birth.
What is the ductus arteriosus?
(Caroline, 2021)
This neurological feature results in faster changes in intracranial pressure due to a more compliant skull in infants.
What are the fontanelles?
(Caroline, 2021)
This infection is most commonly found in pediatrics; it is primarily spread through the fecal-oral route. It can cause perianal itching.
What is Enterobius Vermicularis (Pinworms)
(Rawla & Sharma, 2023)
In neonatal resuscitation, chest compressions are initiated when the heart rate remains below this threshold despite adequate ventilation/
What is less than 60 beats per minute?
(NRP)
A newborn baby with blue extremities, heart rate of 130, prompt response to stimulation, flexed arms and legs, and breathing at a rate of 12, shallow and irregular
What is an APGAR score of 7? (Brown, 2025)
If a baby is born under this weight, they have an increased risk of mortality.
What is an infant under 2lbs?
(Caroline, 2021)
This hepatic limitation reduces a neonate’s ability to maintain adequate blood glucose levels during periods of stress or illness.
What is immature liver function?
(Society, C.P, n.d.)
This condition typically presents with a neonate appearing with a flat abdomen, respiratory distress and hypoxia.
What is a congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia?
(Weiner et al., 2016)
This respiratory condition, common in infants, often requires supportive care such as suctioning and oxygen rather than routine bronchodilator use.
What is bronchiolitis?
(Caroline, 2021)
A newborn baby who is pale/blue, heart rate of 61, minimal response to stimulation, no activity and no respirations.
What is an APGAR score of 2? (Brown, 2025)
These abdominal organs are more vulnerable in children because they are larger, more mobile and less shielded by the lower ribs
What are the kidneys?
(Caroline, 2021)