Pediatape Pediatric Emergency Tape
The PediaTape Pediatric Emergency Tape is a length-based, color-coded tape that estimates a child's weight from their length and points you to the matching equipment sizes and medication references for that color zone, with no math, no device, and no need to know the child's age. Lay the child flat, measure from head to heel, and read the color at the heel. It covers about 3 kg to 36 kg, follows the color zones of the Broselow system, and is built on US CDC NHANES data. Made by PediaTape, LLC and supplied by Pacific Biomedical, an authorized distributor.
Why length-based estimation matters
- Weighing a child during an emergency is rarely possible, and estimating by age or by eye is unreliable. A quick length measurement gives a fast, consistent weight estimate without a scale or the child's age.
- That one estimate drives everything that follows, the equipment sizes, the energy settings, and the medication references, so starting from a better weight reduces the chance of a sizing or dosing error.
- It needs nothing but the child and a free hand: no app to unlock, no battery, no parent to ask, and no age to know, which is exactly the situation with a found or unidentified child.
How to use it
- Lay the child flat on their back on a firm surface.
- Line up the marked end of the tape with the top of the child's head.
- Run the tape down to the child's heel, with the foot flat.
- Read the color zone at the heel. That color is the child's weight band.
- Use that color zone for the equipment sizes and the dosing and energy references printed on the tape, and confirm against your protocol.
What each color zone gives you
Read at the heel, each color zone provides an estimated body weight and, for that weight band, the equipment sizes, defibrillation and cardioversion energy references, fluid and rapid-sequence-intubation references, and pre-calculated medication volumes for the standard concentrations printed on the tape, plus age-based vital-sign ranges. The doses and settings are printed on the tape itself and must be read there and confirmed against your protocol and pharmacy. The color sequence is grey, pink, red, purple, yellow, white, blue, orange, and green, the same color-coding used by Broselow-style carts and equipment.
PediaTape compared with other ways to estimate a child's weight
| Method | What it gives you | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| PediaTape (length-based color tape) | A fast weight estimate plus equipment sizes and dosing references from the child's length, with no device and no age needed | Length-only, so it can be off at the extremes of body build; use a known weight when one is available |
| Age-based formula | A weight estimate from the child's age, usable before you reach the child | Needs the age, and is generally less accurate and less consistent than a length measurement |
| Clinician or parental estimate | Instant, with no tools | A clinician's eyeball estimate is often off; a parent's estimate is good, but only when a parent is present |
| Dosing app or reference card | Calculates from a weight you enter | Still needs a weight or length first, plus a charged, unlocked device |
How accurate is it
Length-based estimation is faster and more consistent than estimating from age or by eye, and it does not require knowing the child's age. Like any length-only tool, it can under-estimate weight in a heavier-than-average child and over-estimate in a lighter-than-average child, so when a recent measured weight is available, use it, and always follow your clinical judgment and protocol. PediaTape's zones are derived from US CDC NHANES data and align with the Broselow system.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | PediaTape, LLC |
| Type | Length-based, color-coded pediatric emergency tape |
| Use | Estimate weight and reference equipment sizes and dosing for pediatric resuscitation |
| Weight range | About 3 kg to 36 kg, up to about 144 cm in length (not for adults or neonates under 3 kg) |
| Data basis | US CDC NHANES data, compatible with the Broselow system |
| Guidelines | 2026 edition, aligned with the 2025 AHA PALS guidelines |
| Material | Durable laminated synthetic, wipeable and reusable |
| Lookup | Weight-based, length-based, and age-based |
Frequently asked questions
How do you estimate a child's weight in an emergency?
What is a length-based or Broselow-style tape?
How do you use PediaTape, and which end goes where?
What do the color zones mean?
What does PediaTape tell you besides weight?
What weight and age range does it cover?
Is it compatible with the Broselow system and color-coded carts?
How is PediaTape different from the Broselow tape?
How accurate is a length-based tape?
Does it work for larger or smaller than average children?
When do you use it?
Does it estimate ideal or actual weight?
Is PediaTape reusable, and how do you clean it?
Which edition should I use?
Is PediaTape current and reliable?
What is PediaTape made of, and is it durable?
What is the difference between PediaTape and the Quick Tape?
Is PediaTape a reliable alternative to the Broselow Tape?
What if you cannot measure the child's length?
Who makes PediaTape, and where can I buy it?
PediaTape is a point-of-care reference tool for trained clinicians and does not replace clinical judgment, institutional protocols, or pharmacy verification. Supplied by Pacific Biomedical, an authorized distributor.
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Pediatape Pediatric Emergency Tape PT-Pediatape |
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$25.00
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