Update on pediatric advanced life support guidelines.

Accidents are a leading cause of death for children in several nations. Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common causes of cardiac arrest. Other causes include drowning, burns, gunshot wounds, poisoning, smoke inhalation, and airway obstruction caused by asphyxiation from foreign bodies. Approximately 50% to 65% of children who require cardiopulmonary resuscitation are younger than 1 year of age, with most being younger than 6 months of age. To prevent loss and improve quality of life, it is imperative to initiate measures to improve oxygenation and treat cardiac dysfunction. Guidelines for the management of life-threatening emergencies in infants and children are internationally similar but not identical. The Australian Resuscitation Council, the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council current guidelines all have some basic essential techniques for management of pediatric emergencies.