According to the American Heath Association (AHA), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique used after sudden cardiac arrest. Like adult CPR, infant CPR is a dual procedure during which rescue breathing provides oxygen to the lungs and chest compressions maintain blood circulation until medical help arrives or the infant's heartbeat and breathing is restored.
CPR History
The use of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions can be traced to the 18th and 19th centuries; however, the modern CPR procedure was developed in 1960. Infant CPR uses the same general instructions as adult CPR: shout and tap, open the airway, give two breaths, give 30 compressions, repeat. However, infant CPR differs in some ways to compensate for an infant's small size and fragility.
Infant CPR Modifications
Infant CPR uses two fingers on the breastbone for chest compression. The provider places his mouth over the infant's mouth and nose to perform rescue breathing. According to Washington University, because airway restriction is the major cause of infant cardiac arrest, providers who are alone with infants should provide CPR for a full two minutes before calling 911.
Why Infant CPR is Performed
CPR is performed on infants who have stopped breathing, have no pulse or heartbeat or are unconscious. According to the AHA, infant and child death from unexpected cardiac arrest is most often caused by drowning, respiratory problems, sudden infant death syndrome or trauma. Trauma may involve serious head injury, electrical shock, poisoning or excessive loss of blood. The AHA reports that accidental suffocation and choking are the leading causes of injury-related infant deaths.
The New CPR with Hands Only
In 2009, the American Heart Association introduced a new CPR procedure that uses only chest compressions and no mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. According to the AHA, this chest compression only procedure is not for use with infants. AHA recommends its use for sudden cardiac arrest experienced by adults and children over eight years old.
Tip
The American Red Cross provides free CPR training.
Warning
The American Heart Association warns that CPR is best performed by those who are trained in the procedure.
