Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist, Jon McCormack, explores the rare occurrence of paediatric cardiac arrest; he talks through the CRASH algorithm and emphasises the importance of cognitive aids and good airway positioning.

He also explains why, with a couple of caveats, in these situations it’s ok to see children as small adults.

• Cognitive aids are really important, know what cognitive aids you have available, become familiar with where they are and how you use them……. and use them.

Paediatric TCA paper: https://emj.bmj.com/content/35/11/669.long

30/60/90 reference guideline for resus in drowning (Credit: National Operation Guidance on Water Rescue & Flooding)

Jon is a Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

He graduated from Dundee University in 1998 before completing his Anaesthetic training in South East Scotland and a Paediatric Anaesthetic Fellowship in Vancouver.

He is a Clinical Lead for Paediatric Trauma in the South-East Scotland Trauma Network and a member of the Scottish Trauma Network Paediatric Core Group and the national Mass Casualty-Major Incident planning group.

Jon is also the Deputy Lead Examiner for the Diploma in Retrieval and Transfer Medicine (RCSEd) and is on the EMRS organising committee of the annual Retrieval Conference.

His three children, generally keep him busy out of work but whenever time allows Jon is a keen cyclist and whenever snow allows, a very keen skier.