Child CPR
CPR for Child (1 to 12 years old)
Definition
CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is performed when a child’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped, as in cases of drowning, suffocation, choking, or injuries. CPR is a combination of:
• Rescue breathing, which provides oxygen to a child’s lungs.
• Chest compressions, which keep the child’s blood circulating.
Permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes if a child’s blood flow stops. Therefore, you must start these procedures immediately and until the child’s heartbeat and breathing return, or trained medical help arrives.
Considerations
All parents and those who take care of children should learn infant and child CPR if they haven’t already. This CPR knowledge is something no parent should be without. Time is very important when dealing with an unconscious child who is not breathing. Permanent brain damage begins after only 5 minutes without oxygen, and death can occur in as little as 4 to 6 minutes later.
Machines called automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be found in many public places, and are available for home use. These machines have pads or paddles to place on the chest during a life-threatening emergency. They use computers to automatically check the heart rhythm and give a sudden shock if, and only if, that shock is needed to get the heart back into the right rhythm.
When using an AED, follow the instructions exactly.
Causes
In children, major reasons that heartbeat and breathing stop include drowning, suffocation, choking, head trauma or serious injury, excessive bleeding, electrical shock, poisoning, and lung disease.
Symptoms
• Unconsciousness
• Not breathing
• No pulse
Show Me Video>>Child CPR
First Aid
The following steps are based on instructions from the American Heart Association.
1. Check for responsiveness. Shake or tap the child gently. See if the child moves or makes a noise. Shout, “Are you OK?”
2. If there is no response start CPR immediately, shout for help. Infants, just as children, have a much better chance of survival if CPR is performed immediately.
Send someone to call 911 and retrieve an AED (if available). Do not leave the child alone to call 911 and retrieve an AED until you have performed CPR for about 2 minutes.
3. Carefully place the child on their back. If there is a chance the child has a spinal injury, two people should move the child to prevent the head and neck from twisting.
4. Remember ABC has changed to CAB
5. Perform chest compressions:
o Place the heel of one hand on the breastbone — just below the nipples. Make sure your heel is not at the very end of the breastbone.
o Keep the head tilted back.
o Press down on the child’s chest so that it compresses about 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest.
6. Give 30 chest compressions. Each time, let the chest rise completely. These compressions should be FAST and hard with no pausing. Count the 30 compressions quickly.
7. Open the airway. Lift up the chin with one hand. At the same time, tilt the head by pushing down on the forehead with the other hand.
8. If the child is not breathing:
o Cover the child’s mouth tightly with your mouth.
o Pinch the nose closed.
o Keep the chin lifted and head tilted.
o Give 2 rescue breaths. Each breath should take about a second and make the chest rise.
9. Continue CPR (30 chest compressions, followed by 2 breaths, then repeat) for about 2 minutes.
10. After about 2 minutes of CPR, if the child still does not have normal breathing, coughing, or any movement, leave the child if your are alone and call 911. If an AED for children is available, use it now.
11. Continue CPR until the child recovers or help arrives.
If the child starts breathing again, place them in the recovery position. Periodically re-check for vital signs and breathing until help arrives.
Heimlich Maneuver Video>>Child Choking
Do Not
• If a spinal injury is suspected, do not tilt the head back when attempting to open the airway. Instead, place your fingers on the jaw on each side of the head. Lift the jaw forward. This keeps the head and neck from moving.
• If the child has signs of normal breathing, coughing, or movement, do not begin chest compressions. Doing so may cause the heart to stop beating.
Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if
• If you have help, tell one person to call 9-1-1 while another person begins CPR.
• If you are alone, shout loudly for help and begin CPR. After doing CPR for about 2 minutes, if no help has arrived, call 9-1-1. Continue with CPR until EMS arrives.