Resuscitation for Children

Resuscitation for Children

Fortunately, it is rare for a child’s heart to stop, but there are dangers in airway blockage and inadequate breathing. Artificial ventilation and chest compression can be performed on older children just as for adults, but they must be done slightly faster, and with lighter pressure. The techniques require some modifications for small children and babies.

CHECKING FOR A BABY’S BREATHING

Open the airway by gently lifting the chin and tilting the head. It helps to support the head slightly. You must look, listen, and feel for breathing.

Do Not, if clearing an obstruction with a finger, you have to touch the back of a young child’s throat. If the child is suffering from an infection of the airway, this can cause swelling and, possibly, total blockage.

CHECKING FOR A BABY’S CIRCULATION

It is difficult to feel the carotid pulse in an infant so, instead, use the brachial pulse. This is located on the inside of the upper arm, midway between shoulder and elbow. Place your index and middle fingers on the inside of the arm, and then press lightly towards the bone. It may help to place your thumb on the outside of the arm. Feel for 5 seconds before deciding there is no pulse.

ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION FOR A BABY

Babies should be given artificial ventilation at twice the rate used for adults and children, using the mouth to mouth and nose technique. Make a tight seal around the baby’s mouth and nose with your mouth, and nose with your mouth, and breathe into the lungs until the chest rises. Let the chest fall. Continue giving breaths at a rate of 20 per minutes.

CHEST COMPRESSION

If you cannot detect a pulse or, in infants, if it is very slow (less than 60 beats per minute), apply chest compressions to the lower half of the breastbone. Use the adult technique for a child of school age; for babies and small children, modify the technique and rate as below. Remember that, in the absence of a pulse, chest compression must be combined with artificial ventilation.

FOR A BABY

Lay the baby on a firm surface. To locate the correct position, imagine a line joining the baby’s nipples. Place the tips of two fingers just below the mid-point of this line, and press at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, to a depth of 1.5 to 2.5cm. Combine with artificial ventilation giving five compressions to one breath.

FOR A CHILD BELOW SCHOLL AGE

Find the correct position on the chest as you would for an adult. Using one hand only, and you press at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, depressing the chest by 2.5 to 3.5cm. Combine with artificial ventilation, giving five compressions to one breath