CPR, Part 2

Performing CPR on a child

CPR on a 1 year-old child or to a child at puberty age is basically the same as in an adult. If you see a child collapse in front of you give him five cycles of compression and breaths. Call for help or call for emergency or paramedic service.

Procedure in infant and child CPR

1. Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth.

2. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Use the strength of your cheeks to deliver gentle puffs of air (instead of deep breaths from your lungs) to slowly breathe into the baby's mouth one time, taking one second for the breath. Watch to see if the baby's chest rises. If it does, give a second rescue breath. If the chest does not rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and then give the second breath.

3. If the baby's chest still doesn't rise, continue chest compressions.

4. Give two breaths after every 30 chest compressions. If two people are conducting CPR, give two breaths after every 15 chest compressions.

5. Perform CPR for about two minutes before calling for help unless someone else can make the call while you attend to the infant.

6. Continue CPR until you see signs of life or until medical personnel arrive.

Compression CPR or Hands-Only CPR

This is a comfortable lifesaving procedure for bystanders who witness a sudden loss of consciousness or heart attack in public. To give compressions, lean forward. Place your shoulders directly over the chest of the patient. Press down on the chest by about 2 inches. Release the pressure, keeping your hands firmly on the chest. Let the chest rise. Repeat giving 30 compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Keep at it until professional help arrives.