Prototype of a new pediatric emergency scale tape: PES tape

Drug dosage and appropriate size of medical equipment for emergency pediatric patients are determined by age, body weight and/or height. In an emergency situation, however, such information about the patients is not always clear. Body height is easily measured when the patient lies down supine. Furthermore, child's height could be a better parameter than age to predict appropriate endotracheal tube (ETT) size and body weight. We propose a new pediatric emergency scale tape (PES Tape). PES Tape is graduated in centimeters to measure body height in supine position. Height-based body weight, drug dosage, energy dosage for defibrillation, appropriate size of ETT and lip-tip distance (LTD) are printed on the tape. We studied the reliability of this tape in pediatric anesthesia. Body weight estimated from the tape was accurate, and predicted size of ETT and LTD was appropriate. PES Tape is a reliable tool in pediatric emergency.