What is the bradycardia heart rate for an infant less than one year of age?

In pediatric care, bradycardia in infants is defined as a heart rate that falls below a specific threshold. For infants less than one year old, bradycardia is typically recognized when the heart rate is less than 100 beats per minute. This is crucial because infants normally have a higher resting heart rate compared to older children and adults, and a heart rate below 100 can indicate potential distress or underlying medical issues.

Understanding this threshold allows healthcare providers, including EMTs, to appropriately assess and respond to infants presenting with symptoms of bradycardia. Rapid recognition and intervention are key to preventing further complications in this vulnerable population. Therefore, the definition of bradycardia for infants highlights the importance of knowing normal pediatric vital signs, as it influences the assessment, monitoring, and decision-making process during emergencies.