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Do Clothing Labels Play a Role for Weight Estimation in Pediatric Emergencies? A Prospective, Cross-Sectional Study
Adeviyye Karaca1, Kamil Can Akyol2, Mustafa Keşaplı1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
The age on children's clothing labels is a reliable method for estimating weight in emergencies when actual age is unknown. This approach supports the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guidelines for critical care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Assessment
- Medical Device Usability
Background:
- Accurate weight estimation is crucial for pediatric resuscitation and medication dosing in emergency settings.
- The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guidelines recommend age-based weight estimation formulas.
- Time constraints in emergency departments often preclude precise weight measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of using the age listed on children's clothing labels (ACL) for weight estimation.
- To determine the reliability of ACL in place of actual age (AA) for PALS weight calculation formulas.
- To assess the clinical utility of ACL in emergency and prehospital pediatric care.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, cross-sectional study involving 1094 children aged 1-12 years was conducted.
- Children's weights were estimated using age-based criteria from clothing labels.
- Estimated weights were compared against actual weights measured by scale.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was found between age-based, label-based, and actual weight measurements (P <.0001).
- Average weights were 25.75kg (age-based), 26.5kg (label-based), and 26.0kg (actual).
- A high percentage of label-based (70.8%) and age-based (67.7%) measurements fell within ±10% of normal limits.
Conclusions:
- Age on children's clothing labels (ACL) can be safely utilized for age-dependent weight calculations in pediatric emergencies.
- ACL provides a practical alternative when actual age is unknown and time for weight estimation is limited.
- This method supports timely and appropriate resuscitation and interventional procedures for pediatric patients.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to investigate the usability of the age value listed on the labels on children's clothes in the age-based weight estimation method recommended by the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guidelines.
Material-Method:
This prospective, cross-sectional study was organized in Antalya Training and Research Hospital Emergency Department. Children aged between 1-12 years were included in the study. The weight measurements of the children were obtained based on the age-related criteria on the labels of their clothes. The estimated values were compared with the real values of the cases measured on the scale.
Results:
One-thousand ninety-four cases were included, the mean age of cases in age-based measurements was 6.25 years, which was 6.5 years in label-based measurements. Average weights measured 25.75kg according to age-based measurements, 26.5kg according to label-based measurements, and 26.0kg on the scales, and showed no statistical difference (P <.0001). It was estimated that 741 (67.7%) of age-based measurements and 775 (70.8%) of label-based measurements were within (±)10% values within the normal measurement limits and no significant difference was measured.
Conclusion:
In the emergency department and prehospital setting, children with an unknown age and that need resuscitation and interventional procedures for stabilization, and have no time for weight estimation, checking the age on clothing label (ACL) instead of the actual age (AA) can be safely used for the age-dependent weight calculation formula recommended by the PALS guide.
