CPR Instructions for Children

Knowing how to perform life-saving techniques such as the Heimlich maneuver or CPR may help you save a friend or family member some day. As a parent, it's a good idea to learn CPR so you will be prepared to save your child in an emergency. However, CPR techniques must be specifically adapted for small children and infants.

Identification

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid rescue technique that aims to keep the patient's heart beating and lungs working. This is done by checking for obstructions to the airway, breathing into a patient's mouth and compressing the patient's chest.

Size

• The size of the victim can affect how CPR is performed, and special instructions must be followed for young children and infants. If too much force is used on children or infants, the CPR can harm the child rather than save him.

Function

• For children between 1 years old and adolescence, use similar techniques as with adults, but only use one hand to perform heart compressions rather than two, and breathe more gently. For infants, you should cover the baby's mouth and nose when giving breaths, and only two fingers should be used to compress the chest at the sternum.

Considerations

• Most cases of cardiac arrest in infants are caused by choking, so checking the airway for obstructions before starting CPR is extremely important.

Warning

• You should never shake a baby to see if she is responsive. Instead, put your ear near the baby's mouth to see if you can hear breathing.

Considerations

• If you're not formally trained and certified in CPR, or if you're trained but out of practice, it's recommended to do only the chest compressions until professional help arrives.