How to resuscitate a child?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be performed in older children just as in an adult, except that the rate must be slightly faster, and the pressure must be lighter. The technique for small children and babies is as follows.
- Open the airway by gently lifting the chin and tilting the head.
- Support the head slightly.
- Watch for breathing.
- Clear any obstruction with a finger without touching the back of the child’s throat.
- Check for the circulation by placing your index and middle fingers on the inside of the arm, and pressing lightly towards the bone. This allows feeling for the brachial pulse.
- Give artificial ventilation at twice the rate used for adults, using similar technique.
- If you cannot detect a pulse or, in infants, if it is very slow (less than 60 give external cardiac massage over the lower half of the sternum. breastbone. Press at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, to a depth of 1.5 – 2.5 cm.
- Combine with artificial ventilation, giving five compressions to one breath.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in children
Age (years) Chest compression Artificial ventilation
<1 5(with 2 fingers) 1(on mouth and nose)
1-7 5(with 1 hand) 1(on mouth only)
>8 15(with 2 hands) 2(on mouth only)
