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CPR Training on Adults and Infants

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving skill that involves a cycle of chest compressions and rescue breaths meant to save a victim without a breath or a pulse. Because the size and age of the victim determines the technique used to resuscitate them, it is important to know the differences in giving CPR to adults, children and infants to avoid injury and maximize effectiveness.

  1. Adult CPR

    • Adult CPR is a cycle of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths, repeated until the rescuer notices a sign of life, EMS personnel arrive to take over or the rescuer becomes too physically exhausted to continue. When rescuing an adult, two hands are placed interlocked at the center of the chest. Each compression goes about 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep at a steady pace, counted as "one and two and three and..." The American Red Cross advises to "[kneel] beside the person, placing your hands in the correct position, straightening your arms and locking your elbows so that your shoulders are directly over your hands." Each breath should be blown into the mouth over a period of one second to avoid blowing oxygen into the stomach and causing the victim to vomit.

    Child CPR

    • Child CPR is almost identical to adult CPR, except that the rescuer may determine that only one hand is needed if the child is small. The American Red Cross states, "use a one-handed technique by placing one hand on the child's chest and the other hand on the forehead to maintain an open airway." The rescuer will compress 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep on a child, depending on the child's size. The most important difference is that after two minutes of CPR, or five cycles of compressions and breaths, the rescuer is to stop and check for signs of life, or breathing and a pulse, in the child victim. If the rescuer senses nothing, he continues with another five cycles of CPR before making his check again.

    Infant CPR

    • To perform CPR on an infant, incredible delicacy is needed. First, according to the American Red Cross, "position the infant face up on a firm, flat surface. The infant's head must be on the same level as the heart or lower." When tilting the head back to open the airway, the rescuer must be extremely gentle so as not to hurt the infant's neck. When rescue breathing, the rescuer will have to make the seal with his mouth over both the infant's mouth and nose so that the air has a large enough entry site. The rescuer should also breathe more slowly for an infant, waiting three seconds in between each breath. Compressions are to be done with two or three fingers only at the center of the chest, pressing down 1/2 to 1 inch, while the other hand supports the infant by holding her forehead. Breaths remain one second long, and each cycle remains 30 compressions to two breaths. As for a child, the rescuer will stop every two minutes to check for signs of life.

    Consent

    • When a rescuer comes upon an unconscious adult, he can assume that the adult would give his consent for assistance and proceed with CPR. A rescuer who acts in a reasonable and prudent manner is protected under the Good Samaritan Law. However, when dealing with a child or infant, the rescuer will have to ask consent of a parent or guardian if they are nearby at the time of the incident. If there is no one near the child, the rescuer is protected under the same laws that protect him with adult CPR. The American Red Cross notes, "Non-professional rescuers who respond to emergencies...are rarely sued for helping in an emergency. However, Good Samaritan laws protect the responder from financial responsibility.'

    Summary

    • Adult, child and infant CPR all consist of a CPR cycle with 30 compressions and two breaths. The depth and strength of the compressions changes for children and infants, as well as the fact that the rescuer must stop after every 2 minutes of care to check for signs of life.

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