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Child CPR & First Aid

Training in child CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and first aid can help you be prepared in the event of an emergency. The Red Cross, colleges and universities often offer classes for certification in basic first aid and CPR.

Practicing first aid and CPR may help prolong the child's life until medical help can arrive. In minor cases, medical help may not be required.

  1. CPR (Ages 1-8)

    • CPR for children is slightly different than it is for adults. There are six steps that are followed, using the memorable 1, 2, 3 and A, B, C. The first step is to make sure the scene is safe for you to attend to the child. Next, check the victim to see if he is responsive, and then call for help or have someone else call.
      A stands for airway. Open the child's airway by tilting the head back and chin up. For B, pinch the child's nose and breathe into the mouth until you see the chest rise. Give him another breath. If the chest doesn't rise, make sure the airway is open again. C is circulation. Use the heel of one hand to press the chest down 30 times. Repeat the ABC steps until the child breathes or help arrives.

    Choking

    • For a conscious child, care for choking is different from using CPR. If you see any foreign body in the child's mouth or throat, remove it. If the child is conscious but isn't responding and is not coughing, use the Heimlich maneuver. This requires getting behind the child, hugging them around the abdomen and thrusting. If the obstruction doesn't dislodge and the child loses consciousness, begin CPR.

    Poison

    • Have the poison control number on hand. The national number, 1-800-222-1222, is free to use 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Call for information and to help prevent visits to the emergency room. Possible poisonings include food, carbon monoxide, drugs, cleaning products, plants and other toxic chemicals such as paint and antifreeze. Poisoning treatment depends on the type of poison, and the poison control hotline can tell you what to do.

    Burns

    • If the burn is a major, take the child to an emergency room or doctor. Also take the child if she shows any signs of shock, an electrical burn or has inhaled smoke. For minor burns, run the burn under cool water or in a cool bath for five minutes (a cold, wet towel can be used instead). Carefully bandage the burn to reduce risk of infection and discomfort. If there is a lot of pain, you can give a child an over-the-counter pain reliever (not aspirin). If the burn worsens or does not improve, consult a physician.

    Sprains

    • Sprains happen when a joint is moved in the wrong way. They can be painful, but normally aren't serious. If the pain is severe or you suspect a bone is broken, see a physician. Otherwise, apply ice to the sprain wrapped in a cloth. Elevate the sprain if the area is swollen and keep the sprain stabilized by using a bandage or splint. Give the child an over-the-counter pain medicine (not aspirin).

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