What is the fourth step of AED use for children and infants?

The fourth step of using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for children and infants is to prepare to let the AED analyze the heart's rhythm. This step is crucial as it allows the device to determine whether a shock is needed. Once the pads are properly attached to the patient's chest as per the earlier steps, the AED will prompt the user to ensure that no one is touching the patient while it analyzes the heart's electrical activity.

This process is critical because the AED relies on the electrical signals from the heart to identify an arrhythmia, particularly a life-threatening condition such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. If an appropriate rhythm is detected, the AED will advise the user to deliver a shock. Skipping this step would prevent the AED from performing its essential function of deciding whether a shock is required, thus potentially endangering the patient's life.