CPR for babies and small children
Accidents with babies are children are a horrifying scenario. Anything from choking on a toy to falling into water or pulling something heavy onto themselves, the list of possibilities is endless. Many parents do not know exactly what to do in an emergency. It is always worth taking a childrens' first aid course, just in case. Children and adults are resuscitated in different ways, and it's important to know how to do it promplty and safely.
If you find that your baby or small child is not breathing anymore, try not to panic and follow these guidelines:
1. Make sure that the child and you are in a safe environment.
2. Check whether the child is responding
• gently shake the child on the shoulder
3a. If the child responds by moving or answering:
• leave the child lying as you found it, provided that there is no danger;
• assess the physical condition and get help if necessary;
• check the child regularly.
3b. If it does not respond:
• CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY;
• place the child on his back and clear the airway.
4. Keep the airway open;
• watch, listen and feel a maximum of 10 seconds to normal breathing;
• see if the chest rises;
• listen at the mouth and nose if you hear a breath;
• feel with your cheek whether the child is breathing air against it.
5a. If the child is breathing normally:
• place it in the recovery position;
• get help, or call an ambulance
• check every minute that the breathing remains normal.
5b. If the child does not breathe normally:
• carefully remove clearly visible objects that block the airway, with the head in a neutral position;
• place your lips closing around the mouth and nose of the child;
• give five respirations, breathe gently in the mouth for 1-1.5 seconds.
6. Check for signs of circulation at least 10 seconds.
7a. If you are sure of signs of circulation:
• continue to ventilate if necessary;
• place the child in a stable side position if he remains unconscious;
• reassess the child regularly.
7b. If there are no signs of circulation:
• start with chest compressions;
• place two fingertips on the lower part of the sternum;
• press the sternum one third of the depth of the chest;
• give 15 chest compressions (with a frequency of 100 per minute);
• give 2 artificial respirations after 15 chest compressions;
• Continue to give heart massage and artificial respirations in a ratio of 15: 2.
8. Stop CPR when:
• professionals take over the resuscitation;
• the child starts to breathe normally or shows other signs of life;
• you are exhausted.
In brief:
Stay calm and:
- call the emergency services;
- check the breathing;
- if there is no breathing, ventilate 5 times;
- check for signs of life;
- if there is no sign of life: massage the heart 15 times, ventilate twice;
- do this for a minute;
- if there are still no signs of life, repeat the cycle for one minute;
- chase up the emergency services if necessary.
Always consult medical professionals.
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