CPR For Infants And Children

Definition

CPR stands for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and may be used in an emergency.

Emergencies

An emergency is a sudden, unexpected occurrence demanding immediate action. Unfortunately, it can also be a time for panic and fear. We all dread coming upon an emergency and not knowing what to do. If you take the time to learn what to do now, you will be better able to cope during an emergency.

To be prepared, there are courses offered by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. These courses include adult CPR and infant-child CPR.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

In a CPR course, you will learn basic lifesaving skills that you should become familiar with and stay familiar with. These include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and in cases in which a victim is choking - the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust).

During the CPR course you will receive instructions on all the steps that need to be performed for effective CPR. You will be given a life-like doll or mannequin to practice the techniques. By the end of the course, you should feel confident about performing CPR.

CPR is a basic life-support technique used when the victim is not breathing and it is possible that his or her heart has stopped beating. These procedures should not be used on an individual who is not in distress.

The technique allows you to perform manually the involuntary actions of the heart and lungs that provide vital blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. CPR involves opening and clearing the victim's airway (by tilting the head backward and lifting the chin), restoring breathing (by mouth-to-mouth, mouth-to-mouth and nose resuscitation) and restoring blood circulation (by external chest compressions).

These techniques should be learned through classroom instruction taught by a qualified personnel. Additionally, regular practice and refresher courses in CPR are recommended. A simple method of remembering the order of action to take in an emergency if the victim is not breathing or if his or her heart is not beating is the use of the letters "ABCs." These letters stand for:

Airway

Breathing

Circulation

They are the three basic steps in the procedure known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Extra care is needed when giving CPR to infants and children. An infant's neck is so flexible that when opening the airway you must be careful not to tilt too far backward, thus blocking the airway or damaging the spine.

What to Do in an Emergency

The most important thing to remember is to try and stay calm. Call 911. The 911 operator will ask you information about the person, injury and your location.

A health professional or someone trained in CPR will do the following:

• Establish the victim's airway, breathing, and circulation.

• Check to see if the person is unconscious. If the person is unconscious, check that the airway is open; take action if not.

• Check if the person is breathing; take action if not (give breaths).

• Check for pulse (a sign of circulation).

• If not breathing and there is no pulse, begin CPR (breaths and chest compressions).

• Later, after airway, breathing, and circulation are assessed and treated, identify and prioritize the injuries. Look for bleeding, broken bones, and signs of shock.

The most serious and life-threatening injuries have to be treated first.While some injuries may produce a lot of blood and seem very serious, they are relatively unimportant if the child has a blocked airway, is not breathing, or has no pulse.

CALL 911

This may be the most important action someone can take in an emergency situation.

It is important to have trained medical professionals evaluate and treat an infant or child who is unconscious, having trouble breathing, injured, or otherwise acting differently.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

What methods can you suggest to help keep calm in an emergency?

When should I call 911?

Where can I take a CPR (Basic Life Support) course?

How often should a refresher course be taken?