If you have a pediatric patient under 1 year old with a heart rate of 55 bpm, what is your immediate plan of action?

In the case of a pediatric patient under 1 year old presenting with a heart rate of 55 beats per minute, the most appropriate immediate action is to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A heart rate of 55 bpm in an infant is considered bradycardic (below normal for their age), and such a low heart rate can lead to inadequate cardiac output and potential loss of consciousness or death.

In infants, a heart rate below 60 bpm typically necessitates initiating CPR, as the infant may not be able to maintain effective circulation on their own. Promptly providing CPR can help ensure that vital tissues, particularly the brain, continue to receive oxygenated blood until more advanced medical interventions can be utilized.

Administering IV fluids, calling for advanced medical support, or simply monitoring vital signs may be warranted later, but the immediate need in this scenario is to perform CPR to stabilize the patient and maintain vital organ perfusion.