During AED use, pad placement should be appropriate for which factor?

During AED use, pad placement should be appropriate for which factor?

• A. Victim's age
• B. Victim's weight
• C. Hospital guidelines
• D. Pad color

Answer: (A)

Pad placement during AED use should be appropriate for the victim's age because chest size and anatomy change as children grow. Younger patients require smaller pads and, in some cases, a different placement (such as a pediatric pad set or anterior-posterior positioning) to ensure the shock travels through the heart safely and effectively. For adults, the standard placement—one pad on the upper right chest and the other on the left side below the armpit—is used because it best directs current through the adult heart. Hospital guidelines and pad color don’t determine where to place the pads, and while weight can influence energy dosing in some devices, the placement logic taught here centers on age-related differences in body size and heart location.