CPR circulates blood to the newborn's lungs for oxygenation, then circulates it throughout her body until more advanced medical care arrives. An infant's heart usually stops as a result of a breathing emergency such as choking or drowning. Infant CPR is given to someone who is up to about one year of age. If you are alone and are unsure what happened to the newborn, provide two minutes of care, then call the emergency number; if you know the unconscious newborn is at a high risk for heart problems, call prior to giving care, according to the American Red Cross.
Step 1
Ensure the scene is safe for you to enter, then identify yourself as a responder trained in infant CPR. Get permission from a parent or guardian if one is present.
Step 2
Check for responsiveness by tickling the infant's foot and asking if he is okay. Instruct another bystander to call the emergency number if the infant does not respond.
Step 3
Use the pinky surface of one palm and one or two fingers of your other hand to perform a head tilt and chin left; look at her chest to see if it is rising and falling. With your ear close to her mouth and nose, feel for air for no more than 10 seconds.
Step 4
Cover the infant's mouth and nose with your mouth to give two separate breaths if he is not breathing; use only enough air in the puff of your cheeks. Look toward his chest as you breathe into him, ensuring his chest rises and falls.
Step 5
Check her pulse only if your breaths go in. Feel for the infant's pulse for no more than 10 seconds on the inside of her upper arm. Press under her bicep muscle and push against her bone.
Step 6
Perform cycles of 30 compressions and two breaths if you do not find a pulse. Keep one hand on his forehead and two or three fingers slightly below an imaginary nipple line on his chest throughout the cycles.
Step 7
Compress her chest about a ½-inch to 1-inch deep for 30 compressions, then cover her mouth and nose with your mouth to give two separate breaths. Continue CPR until you are too tired to continue, another person trained in CPR arrives and takes over, the scene becomes unsafe, an AED is ready to use or the newborn shows signs of life, according to the American Red Cross.
Tips and Warnings
- Use a sterile face shield and gloves to prevent disease transmission.
- Do not immediately begin CPR, assuming an unresponsive newborn's heart has stopped beating. Always check his airway, breathing and pulse to determine the type of care he needs.
References
- "First Aid/CPR/AED for Schools and the Community"; American Red Cross; 2006
- Surgery Encyclopedia: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
