When it comes to child first aid, it is always important to educate people about infant CPR. For any parent, it can be quite distressing trying to save a baby’s life, but this could happen. Infants can choke on toys or food, slip under the water in a bathtub or even get strangled on curtain cords. In case of such emergencies, it is best to be prepared. In this guide, we shall discuss how to perform CPR on a small child. However, it is advisable to take an infant CPR and first aid course. This will help you learn the proper steps and techniques in all kinds of emergencies where a child needs immediate medical help.
Step#1 of Infant CPR: Check for a Response from the Baby
Before performing CPR on an infant, first check whether there are any signs of breathing or consciousness from the child. Shout aloud or tap the shoulders of the little one. If there is no response, call for emergency help as you begin to perform CPR on the baby. Place the baby on a flat surface on his or her back, with the head titled backwards. Stop any bleeding before you begin CPR.
Step #2 Clear the Airway and Check for Breathing
With the infant’s head titled backwards, open his or her mouth. To check for breathing sings, place your cheek next to the baby’s mouth or observe the chest to see whether it is rising. If the baby is breathing but unconscious, reach down the infant’s throat with your finger to clear the airway. Perform this step gently by simply swiping your finger so as not to push any foreign object further down the throat. Only perform this step if you suspect that the baby has chocked on something.
Step# 3 Help the Infant with Breathing
In most cases, infant CPR is performed on babies that have stopped breathing or not breathing properly. If that is the case, cover the baby’s mouth and nose with your mouth. Exhale two gentle breaths (each lasting about one second) into the baby’s lungs. The baby’s chest will rise with each breath.
Step# 4 Perform Compressions
To help oxygenated blood to reach the brain, one has to perform chest compressions. To do this, only place two or three fingers on the infant’s chest, just between the nipples. Press the baby’s chest repeatedly 30 times at the rate of 100 compressions per minute. After each compression cycle, repeat step 3 and 4 of infant CPR until emergency help arrives.