A baby or small child can drown in as little as one inch of water, says MayoClinic.com. While close supervision and water safety rules can go a long way toward keeping your child safe, CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can prevent brain damage or death in a drowning accident. Medline Plus states that brain damage and death can occur within four minutes after breathing has stopped. Knowing the steps of CPR to help a drowning infant is not a substitute for taking a class and becoming certified.
Step 1
Rub and talk to the infant to see if he responds at all. If he does not move or make any noise, perform CPR. Shout for help if anyone else is in the area who could call 911.
Step 2
Place the baby on her back and lift her chin up while pushing her forehead down to open her airway. The University of Washington School of Medicine warns not to pull her head back too far.
Step 3
Listen and feel for signs of breathing. Place your cheek near the baby's nose and mouth and your hand on his chest. If he is not breathing, continue with CPR.
Step 4
Place your mouth over the baby's mouth and nose and give her two gentle breaths. Her chest should rise when you exhale and fall when you remove your mouth in between breaths. Medline Plus says that each breath should take about one second.
Step 5
Keep one hand on the baby's forehead to help his airway remain open. Place two fingers of your other hand on his breastbone just below the level of his nipples and give 30 fast chest compressions. Medline Plus describes the correct maneuver as compressing the chest one-third to one-half of the way down. Do the 30 compressions quickly, allowing the chest to rise between each one.
Step 6
Repeat the cycle of two rescue breaths followed by 30 compressions until help arrives or the baby begins breathing on her own. If you are alone with the infant, pause after two minutes to call for emergency services, then resume CPR.
Tips and Warnings
- Contact the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association to register for a CPR class in your area.
