Paediatric CPR for the untrained
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CPR for Children and Infants When You Are Only Trained in Adult CPR
According to the latest Resuscitation Council UK guidelines, if you have only been trained in adult CPR and you are faced with a child or infant in cardiac arrest, you should use the adult Basic Life Support (BLS) sequence. The guidance is clear: performing adult CPR is far better than doing nothing at all.
In simple terms, adult CPR is acceptable, appropriate, and potentially lifesaving for children and infants when the rescuer has no paediatric-specific training.
Recognising an Emergency: What to Do First
If a child or infant is unresponsive and not breathing normally, follow these essential steps:
1. Ensure the Area Is Safe
Check your surroundings carefully for any dangers to yourself or the child before approaching.
2. Check for Responsiveness
Gently tap the child on the shoulder, or tap the sole of the foot for an infant, and call loudly: “Are you OK?”
3. Shout for Help
Ask someone nearby to call 999, place their phone on speaker, and bring an AED if available. If you are alone, call 999 yourself and keep your phone on speaker so the call handler can guide you through the steps.
4. Check for Normal Breathing
Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds. If the child is not breathing normally, begin CPR immediately.
How to Perform CPR on a Child or Infant When You Know Only Adult CPR
Give 5 Rescue Breaths First
- Give 5 initial breaths as you would for an adult.
- For an infant (under 1 year), avoid over-extending the neck and seal your mouth over both the infant’s mouth and nose.
Chest Compressions
- Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest. For older children, you may need to use two hands.
- For infants, use the two-thumb technique.
- Push the chest down by one-third of its depth.
- Compress at a rate of 100–120 per minute (around two per second).
- Allow the chest to fully recoil after each compression.
Compression-to-Breath Ratio
Deliver 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths and repeat this cycle until:
- the child begins to breathe normally,
- professional help takes over, or
- you are physically unable to continue.
Using an AED on a Child or Infant
If an AED becomes available, switch it on immediately and follow the voice prompts.
- Use paediatric pads if available.
- If paediatric pads are not available, use adult pads.
- Place one pad on the chest and one on the back.
- If the child is under 25 kg, position the front pad slightly to the child’s left side.
Important Guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK
Most cardiac arrests in children are caused by breathing problems, so rescue breaths can make a significant difference. However, the Council is clear:
- Any CPR is better than no CPR.
- If you only know the adult CPR sequence, use it without delay.
- The small differences in technique between adult and paediatric CPR are far less important than starting quickly.
- Early chest compressions and early defibrillation greatly improve survival rates.
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