Work

Infant carry sling-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and other circumstances surrounding such events in children under two years: A five-year regional registry analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Infant carry slings are widely used for infant transport and bonding. However, concerns regarding safety have been raised, including risks of positional asphyxia from improper use, particularly in younger infants. This service evaluation explored the frequency of infant carry sling-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in children under two years old over a five-year period within a regional English ambulance service, placing these findings within the wider epidemiological context. Methods This retrospective observational service evaluation used data from an existing OHCA registry and included all patients aged under 2 years who received a resuscitation attempt following cardiac arrest between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2025. Free-text narratives were reviewed to identify circumstances associated with OHCA, with particular attention paid to carry sling-associated OHCAs. Results A total of 162 OHCA incidents in children aged under two years were identified, representing 1.0% of all resuscitation attempts during the five-year period. This included 114 infants aged under one year (excluding neonatal life support patients, n=28). Only two carry sling-associated incidents were identified, both occurring in patients under one year, representing 1.8% of infant OHCAs. The most frequently documented circumstances surrounding OHCA were co-sleeping (33.3%) and patients found unresponsive (e.g. in a cot, bed, sofa or pushchair) (26.3%). Conclusions Only two carry sling-associated OHCA incidents were identified over five years, suggesting such events were uncommon within this regional registry. In contrast, other sleep-related circumstances, particularly co-sleeping, accounted for a substantially larger proportion of infant OHCA cases.

Source: Resuscitation Plus

DOI: 10.1016/j.resplu.2026.101536

Authors: Andrew Cole, Ollie Zorab, Timothy Godfrey, Sarah Black

Institution: South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Language: English

Topic: Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation

Subfield: Emergency Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,450