New Baby Important Info: Infant CPR

With all things (new baby) considered, I thought it important and appropriate to post directions for giving infant CPR.  I needed to view this once again since it's been some time that I've gone through the instructions myself.  According to First Aid Web,

• According to generally accepted guidelines, Infant CPR is administered to any victim under the age of 12 months.  Infants, just as children, have a much better chance of survival if CPR is performed immediately. If you are alone with the infant, do not dial 9-1-1 until after you have made an attempt to resuscitate the victim. Check the infant for responsiveness by patting his feet and gently tapping his chest or shoulders. If he does not react (stirring, crying, etc.), immediately check his airway.

"A" is for AIRWAY. It is normal for an infant to take shallow and rapid breaths, so carefully look, listen and feel for breathing. If you cannot detect any signs of breathing, the tongue may be obstructing the infant's airway. Although the head tilt/chin lift technique is similar to adults and children, when clearing an infant's airway it's important not to tilt the head too far back. An infant's airway is extremely narrow and overextending the neck may actually close off the air passage.

1. "Sniffer's position

Tilt the head back into what is called the "sniffer's position" - far enough to make the infant look as if he is sniffing (Figure 1). If the victim is still not breathing on his own, you will have to assist him breathing.

• "B" is for BREATHING. Cover the infant's mouth and nose with your mouth creating a seal, and give a quick, gentle puff from your cheeks.

Let the victim exhale on his own - watch his chest and listen and feel for breathing. If he does not breathe on his own, again place your mouth over his mouth and nose and give another small puff (Figure 1).

If the infant remains unresponsive (no crying or moving), immediately check his circulation.

• "C" is for CIRCULATION. An infant's pulse is checked at the brachial artery, which is located inside of the upper arm, between the elbow and the shoulder (Figure 1).

Place two fingers on the brachial artery applying slight pressure for 3 to 5 seconds. If you do not feel a pulse within that time, then the infant's heart is not beating, and you will need to perform chest compressions.

An infant's delicate ribcage is especially susceptible to damage if chest compressions are improperly performed, therefore it is important to use caution when rescuing an infant. Place three fingers in the center of the infant's chest with the top finger on an imaginary line between the infant's nipples. Raise the top finger up and compress with the bottom two fingers (Figure 1). The compression should be approximately ½ inch deep - remember, ½ hand (2 fingers), ½ inch.

1. Infant hand placement

Count aloud as you perform five compressions and follow up with one breath. Repeat this cycle 20 times before checking the infant for breathing and pulse.    REMEMBER TO DIAL 9-1-1.   If there is no pulse, continue administering 5 compressions/1 breath until an ambulance arrives. If at any point the infant regains a pulse but still does not breathe on his own, give him one rescue breath every three seconds. ~Curious Mommy