CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) for infant under 1

Causes:

The indication for CPR is cardiopulmonary arrest, a combination of two life-threatening conditions: absence of breathing and no heartbeat.

Major causes include SIDS, choking, hyperthermia (too hot), hypothermia (too cold), poisoning, seizure, head trauma or other serious trauma, electrical shock, bleeding and hypovolemia, infection and septic shock.

Symptoms:

• no breathing
• no pulse
• unconsciousness

• DO NOT give chest compressions if there is a heartbeat; doing so may cause the heart to stop beating.
• DO NOT move the infant's head or neck to check for breathing if a spinal injury is suspected.

Call Your Healthcare Provider if:

• you are not alone, have one person call the local emergency number while another person begins CPR
• you are alone, shout for help.

Note: If you are trained in CPR, call the local emergency number and administer CPR.

First Aid:

1. Check for consciousness. Rub the infant's back, nudge or do a sternal rub to check for responsiveness. See if the baby moves or makes a noise.

2. If there is no response, shout for help.

3. Place the baby on its back on a hard surface, keeping the back in a straight line, firmly supporting the head and neck. Expose the chest.

4. Place a pad or rolled towel under the infant's shoulders. Lift the infant's chin while tilting the head back slightly to move the tongue away from the windpipe. Do not overextend the head. If a spinal injury is suspected, pull the jaw forward without moving the head or neck. Don't let the mouth close.

5. Place your ear close to the infant's mouth and watch for chest movement. For 5 seconds, look, listen, and feel for breathing.

6. If the infant is not breathing, begin rescue breathing. Maintain the head position and cover the mouth and nose tightly with your mouth. Give 2 slow, gentle puffs.

7. If the chest does not rise, reposition the head and give 2 more puffs. If the chest still doesn't rise, the child's airway is blocked. Follow instructions for choking (for unconscious infant under 1 year) .

8. If the infant's chest does rise, use one hand to keep the baby's head tilted and with the other hand place 2 fingers on the inside of their upper arm, just above the elbow. Squeeze gently to feel the baby's pulse for 5 to 10 seconds.

9. If the baby has a pulse, give 1 breath every 2 seconds. Check the pulse after every 30 breaths.

10. If the infant has no pulse , begin chest compressions. Maintain the head position and place 2 fingers on the middle of the baby's breastbone, on the anatomically correct nipple line. Quickly press your fingers 1/2 to 1 inch into the infant's chest 5 times. Give the compression in a smooth, rhythmic manner, keeping your fingers on the baby's chest.

11. Call the local emergency number after you have administered CPR for 1 minute 20 cycles or, if possible, have someone else make the call as you administer CPR.

12. Give the infant 1 breath, followed by 5 chest compressions. Count aloud as you pump in a fairly rapid rhythm. You should pump roughly one and a half times a second, or about 100 times a minute (Count 1 and 2 and...).

13. Repeat this sequence 10 times. Recheck the baby's pulse for 5 seconds.

14. Repeat steps 12 and 13 until the infant's pulse resumes or help arrives. If the pulse resumes, go to step 9.

Prevention:

Never underestimate what a child can do - play it safe and assume that the child is more mobile and more dexterous than you thought possible. Never leave a baby unattended on a bed, table, or other surface from which the baby could roll.

Recognize what is age-appropriate for children - especially when choosing toys. Don't give infants toys that are heavy or fragile or that have batteries or small parts.

Create a safe environment and supervise children carefully - particularly around water and near furniture. Know where your children are and what they are doing at all times. Never leave a baby in a mesh playpen with one side down. To reduce the risk of choking accidents, make sure children do not come into contact with buttons, watch batteries, popcorn, coins, grapes, or nuts. It is also important to sit with a child while he or she eats. Do not prop bottles, and do not allow a child to crawl around while eating.

Never tie pacifiers (or anything else) around a baby's neck.

Start teaching your child the meaning of "Don't touch." The earliest safety lesson is "No!"


CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an important procedure for everyone to know. It has been responsible for saving many lives and can sustain life until emergency medical care arrives.