Pediatric Pharmacists’ Participation in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Events

The Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA) understands the dilemma and varying factors that many institutions face concerning the routine participation of pharmacists in emergency resuscitation. Acknowledging these challenges, the PPA encourages all institutions to strongly consider creating, adopting, and upholding policies to address pharmacists’ participation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) events. The PPA advocates that pharmacists be actively involved in the institution’s medical emergency team committees and the preparation of emergency drug kits and resuscitation trays. The PPA advocates that all institutions requiring a pharmacist’s participation in CPR events consider adopting preparatory training programs. The PPA recommends that pharmacists obtain emergency response credentialling with basic life support and pediatric advanced life support and may consider advanced cardiac life support and neonatal resuscitation program certification dependent on practice area. Additionally, the PPA recommends that pharmacists are educated on the pharmacotherapy of drugs used in the CPR process, including, but not limited to, medication preparation and administration guidelines, medication compatibility, recommended dosing for emergency medications, and familiarity with the institutional emergency cart.