CPR

CPR guide on young children & Infants.

Lesson #1

CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest.

“Why is CPR so important?” 

CPR can help save a life if a person's breathing or heart stops. It's not just for healthcare workers and emergency responders. In fact, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival when a bystander takes action. 

How to perform CPR on an infant.

Although you hope you won’t have to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) It’s very important you have these skills, as CPR is performed differently on an infant.

BEFORE GIVING A CHILD OR INFANT, CHECK..

• Check the scene for safety, immediately form an initial impression, and obtain consent from the parent or guardian. And remember to use the personal protective equipment.

• If the infant appears unresponsive, check the child or infant for responsiveness. Examples: shout-tap-shout, or something else that could gain attention.

• For a baby and or infant, shout to get their attention. Either using the baby’s name (If you know it) If the infant or baby doesn’t respond, a common way to gain attention is to tap the bottom of their foot and shout again while checking for breathing. Check no more than 10 seconds.

If they still don’t respond, get some other staff & the necessary equipment.

Performing Child & Infant CPR

• Place the child or infant on their back on a firm, flat surface.

• For a child, kneel beside them. For an infant, stand or kneel to the side of the baby, with your hips on a slight angle!

• Give 30 compressions 

• For a baby, place both thumbs (side-by-side) on the center of the baby’s chest, just below the chest line.

• Use the other fingers to encircle the baby’s chest toward the back, providing support

• at the same time, push hard down and fast about 1 ½ inches at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.

• Allow the chest to return to its normal position after each compression

• Alternatively, for a baby, use the two-finger technique

• Use two fingers placed parallel to the chest in the center of the chest

• For a baby, if you can’t reach the depth of 1 ½ inches, consider using the one-hand technique

Give two breaths.

• For a baby, open the airway to a neutral position using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique

• Blow into the child or baby’s mouth for about 1 second

• Ensure each breath makes the chest rise

• Allow the air to exit before giving the next breath

• If the first breath does not cause the chest to rise, retilt the head and ensure a proper seal before giving the second breath. If the second breath does not make the chest rise, an object may be blocking the airway

Continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and two breaths. 

I Hope this information helped you guys get more of an idea on how to do CPR on an infant, We’re off to a great start! If you have any recommendations or questions, contact me at Gianna.dior. Please keep it to department questions only!

Signed, 

Gianna Dior

Pediatrics Director