Paediatric emergency table

Paediatric Emergencies · freely accessible

For healthcare professionals. This information does not replace clinical judgement in the individual case; the current summary of product characteristics and the guidelines cited are authoritative.

Medically reviewed: Dr. med. univ. Daniel Pehböck, DESA, 01.11.2026

Knowing the weight is half the battle. If known, always use the actual weight (as stated by the parents, child health record); otherwise a length-based tape, ideally with adjustment for body habitus – more accurate than age-based formulas. The table estimates weight from age (APLS formulas, up to 12 y); from 13 y or from puberty onwards, ask for the actual weight. In overweight children, dose hydrophilic emergency drugs (e.g. adrenaline) by ideal body weight, not by actual weight (ERC 2025).

Children – emergency drugs
Doses from the drug data (references there) · fluid bolus 10 ml/kg (ERC 2025; more cautious in cardiogenic shock, e.g. 5 ml/kg) · Preterm/newborn: values according to PLS – for resuscitation immediately after birth NLS applies (adrenaline 20 µg/kg, range 10–30 µg/kg i.v./i.o.), see chapter Newborns

Age	Adrenaline (epinephrine) 0.01 mg/kg i.v./i.o. · max. 1 mg 0.1 mg/ml	Amiodarone 5 mg/kg i.v./i.o. · max. 300 mg 50 mg/ml	Adrenaline (epinephrine) 0.01 mg/kg i.m. · max. 0.5 mg 1 mg/ml	Volume 10 ml/kg
Preterm 1.5 kg	0.15 ml 0.015 mg	0.15 ml 7.5 mg	0.015 ml 0.015 mg	15 ml
Newborn 3.5 kg	0.35 ml 0.035 mg	0.35 ml 17.5 mg	0.035 ml 0.035 mg	35 ml
Infant 6 mo 7 kg	0.7 ml 0.07 mg	0.7 ml 35 mg	0.07 ml 0.07 mg	70 ml
1 y 10 kg	1 ml 0.1 mg	1 ml 50 mg	0.1 ml 0.1 mg	100 ml
2 y 12 kg	1.2 ml 0.12 mg	1.2 ml 60 mg	0.12 ml 0.12 mg	120 ml
3 y 14 kg	1.4 ml 0.14 mg	1.4 ml 70 mg	0.14 ml 0.14 mg	140 ml
4 y 16 kg	1.6 ml 0.16 mg	1.6 ml 80 mg	0.16 ml 0.16 mg	160 ml
5 y 18 kg	1.8 ml 0.18 mg	1.8 ml 90 mg	0.18 ml 0.18 mg	180 ml
6 y 25 kg	2.5 ml 0.25 mg	2.5 ml 125 mg	0.25 ml 0.25 mg	250 ml
8 y 31 kg	3.1 ml 0.31 mg	3.1 ml 155 mg	0.31 ml 0.31 mg	310 ml
10 y 37 kg	3.7 ml 0.37 mg	3.7 ml 185 mg	0.37 ml 0.37 mg	370 ml
12 y 43 kg	4.3 ml 0.43 mg	4.3 ml 215 mg	0.43 ml 0.43 mg	430 ml

Amiodarone (off-label): ERC dose – the SmPCs give no paediatric dosing; note the benzyl alcohol contraindication of the i.v. products in young children (see drug Amiodarone).

Preterm infants and newborns: The preterm/newborn rows apply to emergencies after the immediate birth period (PLS). For resuscitation immediately after birth the NLS algorithm applies – adrenaline (epinephrine) 20 µg/kg (range 10–30 µg/kg) i.v./i.o., see chapter Newborns.

Children – airway and defibrillation
Tube ID in mm · ERC 2025: cuffed tubes for all children, limit cuff pressure as per manufacturer · age formulas from approx. 2 y (cuffed formula confirmed by ERC up to 8 y) · oral depth at the teeth (newborn: kg + 6 cm) · defibrillation 4 J/kg, not above the adult energy of the device (120–200 J)

Age	kg	Tube cuffed	uncuffed	Depth cm	Guedel	Defib J
Preterm	1.5	–	2.5 (–3.0)	7.5	00	6
Newborn	3.5	–	3	9.5	0	14
Infant 6 mo	7	per manufacturer	3.5	12	1	28
1 y	10	3.75	4.25	12.5	1	40
2 y	12	4	4.5	13	1	48
3 y	14	4.25	4.75	13.5	2	56
4 y	16	4.5	5	14	2	64
5 y	18	4.75	5.25	14.5	2	72
6 y	25	5	5.5	15	2	100
8 y	31	5.5	–	16	2	124
10 y	37	6	–	17	2–3	148
12 y	43	6.5	–	18	2–3	172

Children – weight and vital signs
Weight estimated by APLS: infant 0.5 × months + 4 · 1–5 y 2 × age + 8 · 6–12 y 3 × age + 7 kg · HR/RR: normal range · BP syst.: median (lower limit P5) – according to ERC 2025/RCUK 2025; intermediate ages linearly interpolated (approximation)

Age	kg	HR /min	BP syst. (P5)	RR /min	VT ml 6–8 ml/kg
Preterm	1.5	110–180	–	25–60	9–12
Newborn	3.5	110–180	75 (50)	25–60	21–28
Infant 6 mo	7	105–175	84 (59)	23–55	42–56
1 y	10	100–170	95 (70)	20–50	60–80
2 y	12	90–160	98 (73)	18–40	72–96
3 y	14	85–155	99 (74)	18–37	84–112
4 y	16	75–145	99 (74)	17–33	96–128
5 y	18	70–140	100 (75)	17–30	108–144
6 y	25	70–135	102 (76)	16–29	150–200
8 y	31	65–130	106 (78)	15–27	186–248
10 y	37	60–120	110 (80)	14–25	222–296
12 y	43	60–115	113 (83)	14–24	258–344

Abbreviations: Preterm = preterm infant · Newborn = neonate · mo = months · HR heart rate · RR respiratory rate · VT tidal volume (target range 6–8 ml/kg ideal body weight – in obesity do not base it on actual weight; adjust to chest rise, lung mechanics and capnography) · ID internal diameter.

Formulas: Weight (APLS) infant 0.5 × months + 4 · 1–5 y 2 × age + 8 · 6–12 y 3 × age + 7 kg · cuffed tube 3.5 + age/4 · uncuffed 4 + age/4 · oral insertion depth 12 + age/2 cm · tube size in Charrière 18 + age · defibrillation 4 J/kg (all shocks, not exceeding the device's adult energy); refractory (after 5 unsuccessful shocks) stepwise up to 8 J/kg, max. 360 J.

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