What medication and dosage should be administered for paediatric bradycardia with a heart rate of 40 after drowning?

Prepare for the New York City REMAC Paramedic Credentialing Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

In the context of pediatric bradycardia, especially after an event such as drowning, administering epinephrine at the appropriate dosage is a recommended intervention. The heart rate of 40 BPM signifies that the child is experiencing significant bradycardia, which can compromise cardiac output and perfusion.

Epinephrine is part of the advanced life support protocols used in cases of cardiac arrest and significant bradycardia. The dosage of 0.01 mg/kg for epinephrine (1:10,000 solution) is an established guideline to help stimulate the heart and improve the patient's hemodynamics. This medication works by acting on adrenergic receptors, increasing heart rate and myocardial contractility, and is especially critical in scenarios like drowning, where hypoxia may have occurred.

Using adenosine or atropine is not appropriate in this situation because they are generally reserved for other specific types of rhythm disturbances (like supraventricular tachycardia for adenosine, and vagal response situations for atropine). Dobutamine is primarily used for heart failure or low cardiac output states, not for immediate management of bradycardia in an emergency setting. Thus, the administration of epinephrine is justified and essential in managing br

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