CPR for Children

CPR is slightly done a little different in children. Considering that that the child has a smaller body than the adult, a slight variation should be noted. However, the whole steps are the same from the beginning up to the end. CLICK HERE TO VIEW CPR GUIDELINE.

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It is very important to make sure that the scene is safe before starting out with CPR. You have to survey the scene for safety. Once the scene is safe you can proceed an asses the victim or the child.

The following conditions should be present before starting out with CPR. The victim should be:

• UNRESPONSIVE
• NO BREATHING
• NO PULSE or NO SIGNS OF LIFE

In simple terms, the following can be assesed by checking out the Airway, Breathing and the Circulation. To simplify herewith are the steps that can be done:

Determine Unresponsiveness - this can be done by tapping the shoulder or the chin and say " Are you okay? Are you alright? If there is no reponse immediately call for help.

Open the Airway - Do this by tilting the victims head upward. You must do this slowly to avoid or prevent injury. Common obstructions in an unconscious victim is the tongue. By tilting the victims head, the airway can be opened. The common method of opening the airway is called the heat tilt chin lift maneuver. (Do not perform head tilt chin lift if cervical injury is suspected).

Check For Breathing - place your ear near the patients nose and mouth listening for air. Look at the chest for rise and fall. Do this for not more than 10 seconds. If breathing is absent, immediately give two blows. The blows should be given at 1 second each.

Check For Pulse or signs of life - check the carotid pulse. You can find this in the neck just 1 inch from the side of the Adams apple. Check the pulse for not more than 10 seconds. You may also check for signs of life. These are coughing, breathing, movement, eye opening. This are indicative that the victim is alive. (Layrescuers do not perform pulse check, they simply check the signs of life)

Start CPR - perform chest compression if the pulse is absent or there are no signs of life. This is done by pushing on the chest to make the heart pump blood into the victims body.

For children, chest compression can be performed with one hand or with both hands. You may initially start with the use of one hand. Place the middle finger on top of the nipple and make sure that the heel of your hand is in line with the sternum. Compress the chest up to 1/3 to 1/2 of depth of chest.

If you cannot compress the chest up to 1/3 to 1/2 of depth of chest, then proceed with both hands chest compression.

Perform 30 chest compression at a rate of 100 per minute. CPR should be done for 2 minutes that would be 5 cycles of 30 chest compression and 2 rescue breaths.

After about two minutes of CPR, check the pulse and if the pulse is absent, continue CPR for another 2 minutes and recheck again. If the pulse is present check the breathing and provide rescue breaths if breathing is not present.