CPR for Children

Child CPR

A child is defined as ages 1-12. Providing CPR to a child is very similar to an adult.

Step 1 Check for responsiveness

Perform a quick survey to check whether the patient is responsive or not. Simultaneously, check for breathing and a carotid pulse for at least 5 seconds and no more than 10 seconds.
If the patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start giving CPR immediately.

In the hospital, use a bed that has a CPR feature, if not then put the CPR board under the patient. Ensure that the bed is positioned at the correct height to allow you to work efficiently.
Outside of the hospital setting, lay the patient on the floor and kneel beside them.

Properly place the heel of the hand in the middle of the patient’s chest at the lowert half of the sternum .
Put your other hand on the top of the first hand and interlock your fingers together.

Keep yourself in the position where your shoulders are over your hands while giving CPR. Ensuring that your elbows are locked will give you the best results.
Compress the chest in a straight up and down motion.

Remove any clothing that is covering the chest.
Position your lower palm over the lower half of the patient’s sternum.
Place the other hand over the first. Add stability by either interlacing fingers for both hands or firmly holding the wrist of the first hand.
Position your body so your arms are perpendicular to the ground. Lock your elbows to ensure proper position.
Perform 30 chest compressions with the following in mind:
- Compressions should be at least 2 inches or 5 cm in depth.
- Compressions should be at a rate of 100-120 per minute.
- After compression allow the chest to fully recoil.
- Do not lean on the patient as their chest recoils.

An adult pocket mask is best used for a single provider and a BVM is best used for multiple rescue providers.
Seal the mask over the patient’s nose and mouth and open the airway using the head tilt and chin lift technique.
If you feel like that there is a neck, head or spinal surgery than use the jaw thrust maneuver.

Provide 2 rescue breaths. Ensure that each breathe lasts for 1 second and you watch the chest rise.
In case you don’t have a pocket mask or BVM, give mouth to mouth or mouth to nose ventilation.

To ensure high quality CPR and avoid fatigue, alternate rescuers every 2 minutes. Take less than 10 seconds to get into position.

Continue providing CPR until:

The adult becomes responsive.
An AED arrives.
CPR has been performed for 2 minutes and another rescuer is available to take your place.
Emergency Medical Services arrive and take over.
Exhaustion is reached.
The scene becomes unsafe.