Overview of Performing CPR on a Four Weeks Old Baby and Older

In babies, most cardiac arrests occur from lack of oxygen like from drowning or choking. First aid for choking should be conducted if the baby on your hand has an airway obstruction. CPR should be performed if the reason behind why the baby isn’t breathing is not known. You need to examine the situation. Watch for a response like some kind of movement by stroking the baby. Do not shake him/her.

You need to follow the CAB procedure mentioned below for a baby under age 1 if there’s no response. If you are the only rescuer present and did not see the baby collapse, perform CPR (about 5 cycles) for 2 minutes prior to calling 911 and getting the AED. On the contrary, if you see the baby collapse call 911 and get the AED, before beginning CPR. If someone else is present at the scene, have him or her call for help and get the AED while you attend to the baby.

Compressions:

1.      You need to place the baby on his or her back on a firm, flat surface, such as a table, floor or ground. 

2.      Draw an imaginary horizontal line between the baby's nipples, just place two fingers of one hand below this line, in the center of the chest.

3.      Compress the chest about 1.5 inches (about 4 centimeters), be gentle.

4.      You should pump at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute.

Airway:

Gently tip the head back by lifting the chin with one hand and pushing down on the forehead with the other hand after you’ve finished with 30 compressions.

Breathing:

1.      Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth.

2.      Prepare yourself to give two rescue breaths. You need to use the strength of your cheeks to deliver gentle puffs of air (instead of deep breaths from your lungs) to slowly breathe into the baby's mouth one time which should last one second. Check for the rise of the baby's chest. Give a second rescue breath if the chest rises. If it doesn’t, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and then give the second breath.

3.      Still if the chest doesn't rise, continue chest compressions.

4.      Give two breaths after every 30 chest compressions. If two people are conducting CPR, two breaths after every 15 chest compressions should be given.

5.      Administer CPR for about two minutes prior to calling for help unless someone else can make the call while you attend to the infant.

6.      Continue CPR until you see signs of life or the arrival of emergency medical services.

Contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims by joining a CPR class today. At CPR Memphis, you can either register for a course online or call on 901-438-4200 for the same. There are courses for both healthcare and non-healthcare providers.