How to Perform Infant & Child CPR
Overview
If you come across a child or infant who is not breathing and unresponsive, knowing how to do CPR can save a life. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It means you will breathe for the victim until emergency personnel arrive or the victim begins to breathe on his own. For CPR purposes, an infant is from birth to 1 year old. A child is someone between 1 and 8 years old. To perform CPR properly, you need to take a class in person through a credible organization, such as the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. The instructor can watch you and help you to do CPR without causing injury to the victim or yourself.
Step 1
Respond and then call for help. Check for responsiveness. Gently shake or tap the infant's or child's foot to see if he responds. If the victim is old enough, ask, "Are you OK?" If there is no response, ask someone to call "911." If no one is there to help, do CPR for 2 minutes or five rounds of compressions and breaths before leaving an unresponsive infant or child. If possible, carry the infant to the phone while performing CPR.
Step 2
Check for breathing. Place the victim on her back and open the airway to check for breathing. Place two fingers under the chin and gently tip the head back slightly while supporting the forehead. Turn your head, place your ear near the victim's mouth and look at the chest. Listen and watch for signs of breathing. If the victim is not responding, give two 1-second breaths. For a child, cover her mouth with your mouth or a mask. For an infant, cover his nose and mouth with your mouth or a mask. Give enough of a breath so that the chest rises. For infants, you just need to puff your cheeks for the right amount of breath. If the chest does not rise, try reopening the airway and check for obstructions.
Step 3
Give compressions. For an older child, use two hands. For a smaller child, you may need just one. With an infant, use just two fingers. Push straight down and let the chest come up in between compressions. Do 30 compressions and then 2 breaths. Compressions are given at a rate of 100 per minute. Compress the chest 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest. Place your fingers or hands just below the nipple line but not on the breastbone.
Step 4
Continue CPR until the victim responds, emergency personnel arrives or you are too exhausted to continue.
Tips and Warnings
- For proper training, you need to take a class in person to learn correct hand placement and the best way to do compressions without causing harm. Both the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross give classes worldwide. Classes are typically only one night and the instructor can take the time needed until you feel comfortable with the technique.
- To avoid severe injury to the victim, never give CPR if a victim is breathing or compressions when there is a pulse. Practice how to check a victim properly for breathing and a pulse to know when it is appropriate to perform CPR. Taking a class will also teach you the skills you need for special situations such as if there is a suspected head or neck injury.
About this Author
Lori Newell holds a Master's degree in health promotion and is a certified personal trainer, yoga teacher and Weight Watchers meeting leader. She has published four books and has been writing for five years for multiple international websites and magazines as well as local agencies. Newell is the owner of Living Well Yoga and Fitness Inc.
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