Brain damage begins approximately four minutes after an airway obstruction, water inhalation or traumatic injury prevents a child from breathing, according to the National Institutes of Health. The child can die in four to six minutes without the intervention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR consists of steps that accomplish two tasks: first, rescue breathing to force oxygen into the child's lungs; and second, chest compressions to keep the heart pumping blood throughout the body. CPR for children ages 1 to 8 differs in several important aspects from CPR designed for adults.
Look, Listen, Feel
If you find an unresponsive child, gently turn her on her back and, if possible, ask another person to call 911 for emergency assistance. If you are alone with the child, do not leave him to call for help until after you administer both chest compressions and rescue breathing for two minutes. Check the child's mouth for any objects and remove them if you can.
Tilt the child's chin up with one hand while using the other hand to gently push the forehead down. Put your ear and cheek close to her open mouth. Watch her chest for movement and listen for breaths. If you cannot see or hear any sign of breathing and you do not feel breath on your cheek, begin rescue breathing immediately.
Rescue Breathing
Pinch the child's nose closed, place your mouth over his open mouth and expel two breaths, each lasting no longer than a second. The child's head should remain tilted back during these breaths, and you should see her chest rise each time. After these initial two breaths, begin performing chest compressions.
Chest Compressions
Keep one hand on the child's forehead to make certain it stays tilted back. Rapidly remove bulky clothing from the child's chest and place your other hand on the portion of the breastbone just below his nipples. Avoid placing your hand on the end of the breastbone.
Press straight down quickly and firmly 30 times, with no pauses between the compressions. Try to press the child's chest approximately one-third of the way down, and allow the chest to return to its normal position after each compression. Count the compressions out loud to keep track.
Maintain CPR
After the initial set of 30 chest compressions, give the child two breaths in the same manner as before. Follow these breaths with 30 more chest compressions, and continue this cycle until emergency assistance arrives or the child recovers and begins to breathe on her own.
If you're alone with the child, maintain the CPR cycle for two minutes, then stop to call 911.
