Code Blue Companion — Dose Calculation Reference
All formulas used by the app · aligned with AHA PALS 2020/2025 & APLS · created by Dr Vignesh N, PediaOS · matches app v4.0 · not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the American Heart Association or ALSG
For verification & teaching. Every dose must be independently confirmed against your unit's protocol before administration. Worked examples use a 10 kg child. Doses are per actual body weight; the app caps each at the maximum shown.
1 · Arrest drugs
| Drug | Dose (per kg) | Concentration / prep | Maximum | Example — 10 kg |
|---|
| Adrenaline (1:10,000) | 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO, q3–5 min | 0.1 mg/mL → 0.1 mL/kg | 1 mg | 0.1 mg = 1.0 mL |
| Amiodarone | 5 mg/kg bolus (VF/pVT) | — | 300 mg | 50 mg |
| Atropine (bradycardia) | 0.02 mg/kg | — | min 0.1 mg · max 0.5 mg | 0.2 mg |
| Magnesium sulphate | 25–50 mg/kg (torsades) | — | 2 g | 250–500 mg |
| Calcium gluconate 10% | 0.5 mL/kg (50 mg/kg) slow | 10% (100 mg/mL) | 20 mL (2 g) | 5 mL (500 mg) |
| Sodium bicarbonate 8.4% | 1 mmol/kg (1 mL/kg) slow | 1 mmol/mL · dilute 1:1 with equal-volume D5W | 50 mmol | 10 mmol (10 mL) |
Calcium & bicarbonate are conditional — hyperkalaemia, hypocalcaemia, calcium-channel-blocker or tricyclic overdose, prolonged arrest.
2 · Electricity
| Item | Setting (per kg) | Notes | Maximum | Example — 10 kg |
|---|
| Defibrillation — 1st | 2 J/kg (unsynchronised) | Resume CPR immediately | — | 20 J |
| Defibrillation — next | 4 J/kg | ≥4 J/kg thereafter | 10 J/kg (or adult dose) | 40 J |
| Synchronised cardioversion | 0.5–1 J/kg, then 2 J/kg | SVT/VT with pulse | — | 5–10 → 20 J |
| Adenosine (SVT) | 0.1 then 0.2 mg/kg, rapid push | Fast IV + flush | 6 mg → 12 mg | 1 mg → 2 mg |
3 · Airway & circulation
| Item | Dose / rule (per kg) | Concentration | Maximum | Example — 10 kg |
|---|
| Fluid bolus | 10–20 mL/kg, reassess | 0.9% saline | — | 100–200 mL |
| Dextrose 10% | 5 mL/kg (0.5 g/kg) | 10% (0.1 g/mL) | — | 50 mL |
| Naloxone | 0.1 mg/kg IV/IO | — | 2 mg | 1 mg |
4 · Equipment sizing (weight bands)
| Item | Rule | Example — 10 kg |
|---|
| ETT (cuffed) | <3.5 kg 3.0 · <6 3.5 · <10 3.5 · <12 4.0 · <15 4.5 · <19 5.0 · <24 5.5 · <30 6.0 · <37 6.5 · ≥37 7.0 mm. Uncuffed = cuffed + 0.5. Depth ≈ size × 3 cm at lip. | 4.0 cuffed · uncuffed 4.5 · depth 12 cm |
| Laryngoscope blade | <3.5 kg Miller 0 · <10 Miller 1 · <18 Miller 1–2 · <30 Mac 2 · ≥30 Mac 3 | Miller 1–2 |
| LMA (supraglottic) | <5 kg 1 · <10 1.5 · <20 2 · <30 2.5 · <50 3 · ≥50 4 | 2 |
5 · Rapid sequence intubation
| Drug | Dose (per kg) | Maximum | Example — 10 kg |
|---|
| Atropine (premed) | 0.02 mg/kg | min 0.1 mg | 0.2 mg |
| Fentanyl | 1–2 µg/kg slow IV | 100 µg | 10–20 µg |
| Ketamine | 1–2 mg/kg IV induction | per kg | 10–20 mg |
| Midazolam | 0.1–0.2 mg/kg IV | 10 mg | 1–2 mg |
| Etomidate | 0.3 mg/kg IV | per kg | 3 mg |
| Propofol | 1–2 mg/kg (caution: shock) | per kg | 10–20 mg |
| Rocuronium | 1 mg/kg IV (RSI) | per kg | 10 mg |
| Vecuronium | 0.1 mg/kg (0.2–0.3 RSI) | per kg | 1 mg |
| Succinylcholine | 1–2 mg/kg IV | per kg | 10–20 mg |
Induction agents and paralytics are dosed per actual weight; no fixed single-dose ceiling is applied by the app (verify against your protocol / adult ceiling in large adolescents).
6 · Post-ROSC infusions — "rule of 6" (50 mL syringe)
| Drug | Usual range | Preparation | Rate mapping | Example — 10 kg |
|---|
| Adrenaline | 0.05–1 µg/kg/min | 0.3 × wt (mg) → 50 mL | 1 mL/h = 0.1 µg/kg/min | 3 mg → 50 mL |
| Noradrenaline | 0.05–2 µg/kg/min | 0.3 × wt (mg) → 50 mL | 1 mL/h = 0.1 µg/kg/min | 3 mg → 50 mL |
| Dopamine | 5–20 µg/kg/min | 3 × wt (mg) → 50 mL | 1 mL/h = 1 µg/kg/min | 30 mg → 50 mL |
| Dobutamine | 5–20 µg/kg/min | 3 × wt (mg) → 50 mL | 1 mL/h = 1 µg/kg/min | 30 mg → 50 mL |
| Milrinone | 0.25–0.75 µg/kg/min | load 50 µg/kg over 30–60 min | then per unit protocol | load 500 µg |
Rule of 6: 3 × weight (mg) in 50 mL gives 60 × weight µg/mL, so 1 mL/h = 1 µg/kg/min. The 0.3 × weight version is 10× more dilute (1 mL/h = 0.1 µg/kg/min) for the potent agents. Prefer your unit's standardised concentration where one exists.