Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also known as CPR, and other first aid techniques can save a life in an emergency. In an infant, permanent brain damage can occur after only four minutes without oxygen, according to Medline Plus, with death following four to six minutes later.
Child CPR Techniques
Giving CPR to a child is similar to CPR for an adult, with a few differences, according to MayoClinic.com. Someone attempting CPR on a child between the ages of 1 and 8 years old should do five cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by two gentle mouth-to-mouth breaths. Instead of two-handed chest compressions, give children chest compressions with one hand. Call for help after five cycles, if you haven't already. If an automatic external defibrillator, or AED, with pediatric pads is available, use it according to the prompts given by the device after five cycles of CPR. If no child AED is available, use an adult one. If help is still on the way, continue CPR until it arrives.
Infant CPR Techniques
After stroking the baby and trying to wake him, if he doesn't respond, CPR may be necessary. Babies cannot be revived using only chest compressions, so mouth-to-mouth breathing is essential. Clear the airway and place the baby on a flat surface. To apply rescue breaths, tilt the baby's head back, lift his chin, cover the mouth and nose with your mouth, and give two slow gentle breaths, pausing in between to see if the baby begins to breathe on his own. Chest compressions can be applied by using two fingers placed in the center of the baby's chest, below the level of the nipples. Pump rapidly, about 100 pushes per minute, and pause every 30 compressions to administer two rescue breaths. Continue CPR until the infant revives or medical help arrives.
Other First Aid
First aid techniques that are useful to know include how to stop choking, halt bleeding and handle a broken bone in children. For example, the Mayo Clinic explains to first administer five blows to the back and then use the Heimlich maneuver on children over the age of 1 who are choking. This involves standing behind the child, wrapping arms around to the front and delivering five abdominal thrusts. Infants who are choking, however, should be laid face down on the caregiver's lap and given five gentle but firm thumps to the back alternating with five chest compressions given with the infant face up. Depending on the circumstances, children may also encounter heat illness, frostbite, dehydration, burns or anaphylactic shock, an allergic reaction that can occur in response to food allergies, bee stings or bug bites. Knowing first aid for these situations may help prevent permanent damage or death.
Classes
Infant and child first aid and CPR classes are available through the Red Cross and American Heart Association, as well as through local community centers and hospitals around the country. Learning through a class is the most effective way to remember the lessons and determine whether or not you are doing the techniques correctly, according to BabyCenter.com.
Considerations
While many people are nervous about performing first aid or CPR on an infant or child, especially when they may not have received training or feel out of practice, MayoClinic.com points out that even poorly performed first aid or CPR may save a life. It is far better to attempt to revive an infant or child in an emergency situation than to hesitate and risk the child's death.
