During defibrillation, where should the electrode pads be placed?

• A. Place pads on left chest and back
• B. Place pads on right arm and leg
• C. Place pads on the anterior chest only
• D. The heart should be between the pads

Answer: (D)

The key idea is to deliver the shock through the heart. To do that, place the electrode pads so the heart sits between them, creating a current path that crosses the cardiac muscle. In practice for children, this is usually done with an anterior-lateral arrangement (one pad on the right upper chest and the other on the left side of the chest) or an anterior-posterior setup (one pad on the chest, the other on the back). Either configuration ensures the heart lies between the pads and the defibrillator’s current travels through the heart, maximizing the chance of successful rhythm restoration. Pads placed in positions that don’t place the heart between them can result in a less effective shock because the current may travel around the heart rather than through it.