Step-by-Step Guide to Performing CPR on Children and Infants

When it comes to children needing emergency medical care, knowing what to do can make a big difference. Did you know that performing CPR with rescue breathing can significantly improve the chances of survival for a child in cardiac arrest? Sadly, fewer than 10% of children who have a sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive. However, if someone nearby starts CPR right away, the chances of survival can go up quite a bit.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, involves chest compressions to keep blood flowing and rescue breathing to provide oxygen to the child’s lungs. These actions are crucial because they help maintain vital functions until professional medical help arrives. 

For young children, especially infants and toddlers, CPR techniques are slightly different from those used for adults. Learning these techniques doesn’t require medical training; anyone can do it with the right knowledge and a little practice.

In this guide, we’ll explore step-by-step how to perform rescue breaths for children and understand when it’s necessary to suction a baby’s airway. 

What is Rescue Breathing?

Rescue breathing, also known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, is a first aid technique that involves blowing air into a person’s mouth to help them breathe when they’ve stopped. It’s a life-saving intervention that can help keep the person oxygenated and prevent brain damage, which can occur after just a few minutes without oxygen.

You should perform rescue breathing if someone has stopped breathing, also known as respiratory arrest, but still has a pulse. The technique for babies is slightly different from that for adults or older children. Since a baby’s lungs are small, only small puffs of air are needed to fill them. As far as the rescue breathing rate concerned, the aim is to give about 12 to 20 rescue breaths per minute, which is about 1 rescue breath every 3 to 5 seconds

Rescue breathing is often used in combination with chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but it can also be used on its own if the person’s heart is still beating.

How Does Rescue Breathing Differ From CPR?

Rescue breaths can be given alone or as part of CPR. But how are they different?

You give rescue breaths alone when someone has a pulse but is not breathing. CPR is used when someone’s heartbeat and breathing have both stopped. CPR includes chest compressions and rescue breathing done in cycles.

A review from 2017 showed that doing chest compressions by themselves increases a person’s chance of surviving more than doing rescue breaths and chest compressions.

Usually, when someone’s breathing stops, their heartbeat might stop soon after. That’s why in emergencies, CPR, which includes both chest compressions and rescue breaths, is often needed more than just rescue breaths alone. However, you can learn in more detail about this with an online CPR certification course.

Importance of Rescue Breathing for Children

Rescue breathing is crucial for children in situations where their breathing has stopped or they are not breathing adequately. Here are some key reasons why rescue breathing for children is important:

1. Restoring Oxygen Supply

When a child stops breathing due to an emergency like drowning, rescue breathing provides essential oxygen directly to their lungs. It is a lifesaving measure known as infant rescue breathing rate. This action helps prevent brain damage and other serious consequences of oxygen deprivation. 

The question arises: why is immediate oxygen delivery crucial in such situations? Immediate oxygen delivery is crucial because the brain and other vital organs rely on a constant supply of oxygen to function properly. 

Any delay can increase the risk of permanent damage or death.

2. Maintaining Circulation

Effective rescue breathing helps keep oxygen levels up, which is really important for keeping vital organs like the heart and brain working. If the body doesn’t get enough oxygen, it can lead to the heart stopping or the brain being damaged permanently. 

For example, brain cells can start to die in just 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen. Rescue breathing gives oxygen to someone who needs it, helping their blood carry oxygen to their organs. 

This lowers the chance of serious problems or even death in kids who are having trouble breathing.

3. Supporting Heart Function

Good rescue breathing helps oxygen get into the lungs and blood, which is important for the heart to pump well. If the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen, it can stop working properly, causing cardiac arrest. 

Giving rescue breaths at the right rescue breaths at the correct child rescue breathing rate helps keep the heart beating and prevents things from getting worse. This gives the child a better chance of surviving until doctors can help.

4. Preventing Complications

Rescue breathing helps by quickly giving oxygen to a child who is having trouble breathing. Acting fast lowers the chance of brain damage. 

Each minute without oxygen lowers the survival chance by 10% during a heart emergency. Giving oxygen right away helps the organs work well, which can prevent problems like organ failure or brain damage. 

Doing rescue breathing early and well makes a big difference in how well a child does in an emergency.

5. Complementing CPR

Rescue breathing works with CPR by giving oxygen while chest compressions keep blood moving. For children, standard CPR uses a 30:2 ratio of compressions to breaths. This helps balance the oxygen supply and blood flow to important organs. 

Doing CPR correctly, including rescue breathing, boosts survival chances in emergencies like cardiac arrest. Therefore, getting a CPR certificate shows that a person knows how to perform these lifesaving skills properly. 

This is why combining rescue breathing with chest compressions is so important in caring for children.

6. Adaptability for Children

Children have unique anatomical and physiological characteristics, such as smaller airways and faster respiratory rates, making them more vulnerable to airway obstruction. 

Their chest and lung capacity also differ, requiring modified rescue breathing techniques. When performing rescue breathing, it’s crucial to follow the appropriate child rescue breathing rate, delivering gentler and more controlled breaths to avoid over-inflation of their lungs.

Adjustments in the rescue breathing approach ensure that it is effective for children’s specific needs, providing adequate oxygenation without causing harm.

How to Perform Rescue Breathing on a Baby

Rescue breathing for a baby (infant) is crucial in emergencies like near-drowning, choking, or respiratory arrest. The procedure is delicate and different from that used on adults or older children due to their smaller size and fragility. 

A critical part of this process is maintaining the correct rescue breathing rate to ensure the baby gets enough oxygen without causing harm.

Here’s how to perform rescue breathing on a baby:

1. Check Responsiveness

To check a baby’s responsiveness, gently tap the baby’s foot or shoulder and call their name. 

According to the research, sudden infant cardiac arrest outside of hospitals occurs in about 35,000 cases annually in the U.S. Prompt responsiveness check and intervention significantly improve survival rates. If there’s no response, assume the baby is unresponsive. 

Assess breathing for up to 10 seconds by looking for chest movement, listening for breathing sounds, and feeling for air from the baby’s nose or mouth . If unresponsive, begin rescue breathing immediately.

2. Don’t wait, Call for Help

Immediately call for emergency assistance (911 or your local emergency number) when a baby is unresponsive and not breathing. If alone, use speakerphone while initiating rescue breaths. Promptly seeking professional help increases the chances of survival. 

Studies show that quick emergency response and immediate bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates from cardiac arrest . 

Time is crucial: As mentioned earlier, brain damage can occur within 4-6 minutes without oxygen, highlighting the importance of quick action. 

3. Open the Airway

Now, this step is important. Firstly, lay them flat on a firm surface. To open the airway, use the head tilt-chin lift maneuver: place one hand on the forehead and gently tilt the head back. 

Simultaneously, use your other hand to lift the chin. This maneuver aligns the airway, allowing air to flow more freely. 

Be cautious not to tilt the head too far back, as a slight tilt is sufficient. This step helps clear the baby’s airway and prepares for effective rescue breaths.

4. Check for Breathing

After opening the airway, observe the baby for signs of breathing. Perform a quick assessment using the following steps:

• Look: Watch for movement in the baby’s chest to see if it rises and falls.
• Listen: Pay attention to any sounds of breathing, such as normal breaths or gasps.
• Feel: Place your cheek close to the baby’s mouth and nose to feel for air movement.

This assessment should take no more than 10 seconds. If the baby is not breathing normally, proceed immediately to provide rescue breaths while continuing to monitor their condition closely.

5. Give Rescue Breaths

Giving rescue breaths for children include two simple procedures: Cover the mouth and nose, and Give breaths.

• Cover the mouth and nose: Position yourself close to the baby’s face. Seal their mouth and nose with your mouth if possible; otherwise, seal just the nose. This ensures an airtight seal for effective delivery of breaths.
• Give breaths: Provide two gentle breaths, each lasting about 1 second. Observe the baby’s chest to ensure it rises with each breath, indicating proper air entry. According to statistics, prompt rescue breathing can significantly improve survival rates in infants experiencing respiratory distress. Maintain a steady rhythm while avoiding forceful breaths to prevent injury, considering the baby’s delicate physiology.

6. Chest Compressions (If Needed)

If the baby is unresponsive and not breathing normally after the breaths, start chest compressions.

Place two fingers on the center of the baby’s chest just below the nipple line. Press down gently but firmly about 1.5 inches (4 cm) at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. Ensure each compression is smooth and allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions. After 30 compressions, give two gentle rescue breaths. 

Repeat this cycle (30 compressions followed by 2 breaths) until the baby starts breathing on their own or until help arrives. Continuously monitor the baby’s response and adjust as necessary.

Tips and Precautions for Administering Rescue Breathing

Here are some important tips and precautions to keep in mind when performing rescue breathing on a baby:

• Gentleness and Care: Babies are delicate, so gentle handling is crucial. Use soft and controlled movements, especially when opening the airway or giving rescue breaths.
• Correct Positioning: Properly position the baby on a flat, firm surface before starting any procedure. This helps maintain stability and ensures effective delivery of breaths and compressions.
• Avoid Overinflation: When giving rescue breaths, avoid blowing too hard or too fast into the baby’s mouth or nose. A gentle puff of air is sufficient to inflate their small lungs.
• Monitor Effectiveness: Always watch for chest rise and fall after each breath. This indicates that air is entering the baby’s lungs properly, aligning with the recommended ventilation rate for a child. Adjust your technique as needed to ensure effective rescue breathing.
• Regular Reassessment: Continuously monitor the baby’s responsiveness and breathing status. If the baby starts breathing on their own, place them in a recovery position and closely observe their breathing until medical help arrives.

Apart from this, you should also seek professional training. While these tips provide basic instructions, consider taking an accredited infant CPR certification course for hands-on practice and professional guidance. This training can enhance your confidence and competence in handling emergency situations involving infants.

Furthermore, you should always have emergency services (911 or local emergency number) ready to call. If you’re alone, use speakerphone while performing rescue breathing.

Are There Situations Where Rescue Breathing Shouldn’t Be Done?

In some cases, rescue breathing isn’t recommended, especially in CPR situations. New guidelines from 2010 suggest:

• If you’re not trained in CPR, perform hands-only CPR, which means just doing chest compressions without rescue breaths. Keep doing these compressions quickly and without stopping until help arrives.
• Start with chest compressions before trying rescue breathing. The old ABC rule (airway, breathing, compressions) is now CAB (compressions, airway, breathing), emphasizing compressions first.

These changes are because opening the airway and giving rescue breaths can waste valuable time. Starting with chest compressions helps circulate oxygen-rich blood to the body’s tissues sooner.

Take Action to Save Young Lives

Learning how to do rescue breathing for children and babies can save lives when they have trouble breathing. By knowing how to open their airways and give gentle breaths, you can help until doctors come. It’s important to practice these steps so you can react quickly and help effectively. Stay calm and be ready to act—it can really help a child or baby in an emergency. Share what you’ve learned with others to make sure more people know how to help in these situations. With training and preparation, you can be sure to help when it’s needed most.