*Ok, lets start with what's considered a "child". Child refers to anyone under the age of puberty, once they start developing underarm hair, pubic hair etc, they are considered an adult in the CPR world.
*You may think when you find a child not breathing, you should call or help first. WRONG! When it's a kid, every second counts, so you drop to your knees and get to work! We'll go over when to call for help in a minute.
When you do CPR, remember your ABC's: Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Go in order!
Airway: When you see a kid on the ground, and it doesn't look as though there was been any sort of trauma or fall, open the airway. Do this by rolling them onto their back and tipping their chin up gently so their nose is pointing towards the ceiling. This opens their trachea to allow air to enter in when you give your breaths. Do not over-extend their neck as it will close off their ariway.
Breathing: Look listen and feel for any signs of breathing, if they are breathing, you DO NOT want to do CPR (of course!), if they are not breathing, you need to give 2 initial rescue breaths. For an infant, put your mouth over the their mouth and nose and give 2 gentle breaths each over 3 seconds so you can see the chest rise.
Circulation: For lay person CPR, you will not be checking for a pulse. If you have had CPR training, you can check for a pulse, but most people don't know how to do that, so you don't want to waste your precious time doing this. Chances are, if they are not breathing, their heart will not be beating for much longer anyway. SO. . . . . . start compressions. Find the center of their chest, in between their nipples and compress 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest. for an infant, you can use your first two fingers, for a small child, you may only need to use one hand. Try and remember to keep you elbow straight when you do this, your arm is going to get darned tired if you don't.
*Your compression to breath ratio is 30:2 for EVERYONE, EVERY AGE! (If you have two rescuers and the victim is 1 year and younger, your ratio can be 15:2)
*You should be compressing at a rate of 100 beats per minute, think of the Bee Gee's song "Stayin' Alive", and compress to that beat, best trick EVER.
*After you provide your initial 2 rescue breaths and you perform 5 rounds of CPR (30:2 times five), THEN you call for help. Dial 911, throw the phone on the ground and continue CPR, they can hear you through the phone, just yell at them and tell them where you live and you kid is not breathing. Your first priority is the child.
Ok, lets pull it all together, it's really pretty easy, and just remember, ANY CPR IS BETTER THAN NO CPR!!!! I am posting a handout that I gave that night:
CPR FOR CHILDREN
A: Airway, open it, tilt the chin so the nose is pointing to the ceiling.
B: Breathing. Look, listen and feel. If not breathing, provide 2 gentle rescue breaths
C: Circulation. Get the blood moving by providing compressions. The compression to breath ratio is:
1 person rescue: 30:2
2 person rescue: 15:2
*compressions should be at a rate of 110 beats per minute or to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gee’s.
A: Airway, open it, tilt the chin so the nose is pointing to the ceiling.
B: Breathing. Look, listen and feel. If not breathing, provide 2 gentle rescue breaths
C: Circulation. Get the blood moving by providing compressions. The compression to breath ratio is:
1 person rescue: 30:2
2 person rescue: 15:2
*compressions should be at a rate of 110 beats per minute or to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gee’s.
Choking For Children
1 year or younger: Provide back blows up to 5 times. If not breathing, also provide CPR, 5 cycles, followed by 5 more back blows, then a check for the object in the mouth
Older than 1 year: Perform the Heimlich maneuver. If not breathing, then provide CPR while periodically checking the mouth for any object.
*Never do a blind sweep for the object as it may push the object further into the throat.
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
I know it sounds scary, and hopefully you will never have to use this, but if you do, maybe you will be a little more prepared after reading this. Just remember, ANY CPR is better than NO CPR! And, because you have invested the time to learn about it, the Spirit will guide you in those moments and help you to remember. :)
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