Every parent should know how and when to administer CPR. When
performed correctly, CPR can save a child's life by restoring
breathing and circulation until advanced life support can be given
by health care providers.
What Is CPR?
The letters in CPR stand for
, a combination of rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation)
and chest compressions. If a child isn't breathing or
circulating blood adequately, CPR can restore circulation of
oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Without oxygen, permanent brain
damage or death can occur in less than 8 minutes.
CPR may be necessary for children during many different
emergencies, including accidents, near-drowning, suffocation,
poisoning, smoke inhalation, electrocution injuries, and suspected
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Reading about CPR and learning when it's needed will give
you a basic understanding of the concept and procedure, but
it's strongly recommended that you learn the details of how to
perform CPR by taking a course. If CPR is needed, using the correct
technique will give your child the best chance of recovery.
When Is CPR Needed?
CPR is most successful when administered as quickly as possible,
but you must first determine if it's necessary. It should only
be performed when a person isn't breathing or circulating blood
First, determine that it's safe to approach the person in
trouble. For instance, if someone was injured in an accident on a
busy highway, you'd have to be extremely careful about ongoing
traffic as you try to help. Or if someone touched an exposed wire
and was electrocuted, you'd have to be certain that he or she
is no longer in contact with electricity before offering
assistance, to prevent becoming electrocuted yourself. (For
instance, turn off the source of electricity, such as a light
switch or a circuit breaker.)
Once you know that you can safely approach someone who needs
help, quickly evaluate whether the person is responsive. Look for
things like eye opening, sounds from the mouth, or other signs of
life like movement of the arms and legs. In infants and younger
children, rubbing the chest (over the breastbone) can help
determine if there is any level of responsiveness. In older
children and adults, this can also be done by gently shaking the
shoulders and asking if they're all right.
The next step is to check if the victim is breathing. You can
determine this by watching the person's chest for the rise and
fall of breaths and listening for the sound of air going in and out
of the lungs. In a CPR or basic life support (BLS) course,
participants practice techniques for determining if breathing or
circulation is adequate. If you can't determine whether someone
is breathing, you should begin CPR and continue until help
Whenever CPR is needed, remember to call for
emergency medical assistance
. Current CPR courses teach you that if you are alone with an
unresponsive infant or child, give chest compressions for 5 cycles
(about 2 minutes) before calling for help.
Three Parts of CPR
The three basic parts of CPR are easily remembered as
for breathing, and
- A is for airway.
The victim's airway must be open for breathing to be
restored. The airway may be blocked when a child loses
consciousness or may be obstructed by food or some other foreign
object. In a CPR course, participants learn how to open the
airway and position the child so the airway is ready for rescue
breathing. The course will include what to do to clear the airway
if you believe an infant or child has choked and the airway is
- B is for breathing.
Rescue breathing is begun when a child isn't breathing.
Someone performing rescue breathing essentially breathes for the
victim by forcing air into the lungs. This procedure includes
breathing into the victim's mouth at correct intervals and
checking for signs of life. A CPR course will review correct
techniques and procedures for rescuers to position themselves to
give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to infants, children, and
- C is for circulation.
Chest compressions can sometimes restore circulation. Two rescue
breaths should be provided and followed immediately by cycles of
30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths. It is not necessary
to check for signs of circulation to perform this technique. This
procedure involves pushing on the chest to help circulate blood
and maintain blood flow to major organs. A CPR course will teach
you how to perform chest compressions in infants, children, and
adults and how to coordinate the compressions with rescue
Taking a CPR Course
Qualified instructors may use videos, printed materials, and
demonstrations on mannequins representing infants, children, and
adults to teach proper techniques for performing CPR. The American
Heart Association's basic life support course that includes CPR
lasts about 3 hours and takes place within one session. The course
covers adult, child, and infant CPR and choking.
Participants practice the techniques on mannequins and have
opportunities to ask questions and get individualized instruction.
The final test for the course is a combination of demonstrating CPR
skills and taking a written test.
Because CPR is a skill that must be practiced, it's wise to
repeat a course at least every 2 years to maintain your skills.
Repeating the course also allows you to learn about any new
advances or discoveries in CPR techniques.
Your local chapters of the American Heart Association, the
American Red Cross, and local hospitals are good sources for
finding a CPR course in your area. Taking a CPR course could help
you save your child's - or someone else's - life
Kate M. Cronan, MD
Date reviewed: August 2006
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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