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Child CPR Rules

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, refers to a procedure used to artificially oxygenate and circulate the blood. While in most cases the procedure for delivering CPR to an adult is the same as delivering CPR to a child, in some instances there are differences. The American Heart Association, in conjunction with other health-care organizations around the world, have created ILCOR, or the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, to set forth guidelines on the administration of CPR to both adults and children, including newborns and infants.

  1. Definitions

    • ILCOR defines a newborn as a child of a few hours old until it is old enough to leave the hospital, usually several days. An infant is a child less than 1 year of age. A child is defined as 1 to the onset of puberty. Older is an adult.

    Assessment

    • In a situation where one rescuer is attempting to assess an unconscious and unresponsive child or infant, the proper procedure is to assess the integrity of the airway and check for breathing. This is accomplished by tilting the head back slightly, pulling the jaw forward, and placing a cheek near the nose and mouth while observing the chest for movement. If no breathing is observed, two rescue breaths are given.

    CPR Procedure

    • After giving the breaths, the rescuer will attempt to ascertain heart function by feeling for a pulse in the radial artery, which is located on the inside of the wrist. If no pulse is present, chest compressions will be given at a rate of 30 compressions to two rescue breaths for infants, children and adults or at a rate of 90 compressions per 30 breaths for newborns.

    Emergency Services

    • Five complete CPR cycles (30 compressions and two breaths) should be completed before attempting to contact emergency services. Chest compressions in children should be performed so that the chest is depressed 1/3 to 1/2 its width and allowed to completely recoil before delivering the next compression.

    Infant CPR

    • Infant chest compressions are performed with two fingers at the nipple line instead of as with child and adult CPR, which is administered with both hands just above the cartilaginous structure of the breastbone.

    Newborn CPR

    • Newborn rescue breathing is performed at a rate of 40-60 breaths per minute instead of 12-20 for infants and children, and chest compressions should never exceed 1/3 the depth of the chest. CPR cycles for newborns consist of 90 compressions to 30 breaths per minute.

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