If a child becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, here’s what to do to keep them alive until help arrives. It’s called child CPR, and it’s for children 1 to 8 years old.
Quick help
- Push on the child's chest hard and fast 30 times.
- Breathe into their mouth 2 times.
- Keep going until an ambulance arrives.
- Chest compressions (pushing on the child’s chest) are the most important part of CPR. If you can’t give breath to the child, continue with chest compressions, pushing hard and fast.
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Follow the D.R.S.A.B.C.D of resuscitation
Dangers: Check for any danger to you, the child, or people nearby – things like traffic or live electrical wires. Do what you can to reduce the danger.
Response: Are they responding? Ask “what’s your name?” or say “open your eyes” or “squeeze my hand”. Then grasp and squeeze the child’s shoulders firmly. If they move or make a noise, that’s a response.
Send for help: Call 111 and ask for an ambulance.
Airway: Tilt their head back and lift their chin, this will open their airway. Make sure the child’s tongue isn’t blocking the airway. If there’s anything in the child’s mouth, use two fingers to sweep it out.
Breathing: Check for normal breathing. Is their chest moving? Can you hear air coming from their nose and mouth? Occasional gasps for air is not breathing normally.
CPR: If the child is not breathing normally, start CPR.
Defib: If there is an AED nearby, attach it to the child as soon as possible and follow the instructions on the AED.
| CPR keeps a person alive, but they need urgent attention to start their heart again, so call 111 for an ambulance before you start CPR. |
How to do CPR on babies
First, do 30 chest compressions (pushes):
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Put the child on their back.
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Place the heel of one hand in the centre of their chest.
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Lean over the child with your elbow locked and your arms straight.
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Push down firmly and fast 30 times. Push down one-third of the depth of their chest.
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Don’t worry about pushing too hard – you need to push hard and fast.
- If it’s too difficult to push the chest with one hand, place your other hand on top and continue with both hands.
Then, breathe into the child 2 times:
- Tilt the child’s head back with one hand and lift their chin with your other hand.
- Take a deep breath and seal your lips around the child’s mouth.
- Block their nose by pinching the soft part of the nose or pushing your cheek against it.
- Blow into the child’s mouth until you see the chest rise.
- Remove your mouth, take a fresh deep breath, and blow again into the child’s mouth.
- Continue with the cycle of 30 pushes and 2 breaths until the ambulance arrives. DO NOT GIVE UP.
| If you have a person in urgent need of medical attention, call 111 now. |