How To Conduct CPR For Children

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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation also known as CPR is a skill and technique that is of great significance among the human race. In millions of cases, CPR has helped saved many lives. Mostly applied to adults, CPR can also be used to save the lives of children too. However, most people stay away from the CPR for children as it requires more detailed to execute. Children by themselves are pretty delicate and the process of CPR needs to be handled carefully, otherwise it might harm them further.

It is nobody’s dream to have to be in a position to perform CPR to a child however unknown circumstances can lead to such a situation. To be prepared for such a predicament, one needs to understand the basics of CPR performed on children. This article seeks to explain the vital steps of CPR to children. However it is advisable for one to take a step further and get proper training on the same and also acquire some practice while at it.

Steps of CPR in children.

For a child, one should be alarmed if he is conscious but is unable to cough, cry or respond to sound. This could be as a result of a blocked airway.

  • Check the condition.

One needs to first of all check if the baby is conscious. A simple flick on the foot or a gentle tap on the shoulder should help determine the consciousness of the child. One can also call out. If the child does not respond, it is important that the person monitoring him calls for emergency medical assistance. One can have another person make the call while he embarks on the CPR. First, gently turn the baby on his back and let him lie on a flat and firm surface. The person should make sure that the child is not having any serious bleeding. If there is bleeding of a serious kind, then the person should make effort to stop the bleeding. CPR should not commence until the bleeding is stopped.

  • Open the airways.

Use one hand to tilt the baby’s head back and use the other hand to lift the chin slightly. Ensure that the head is not tilted too far back. Once the head is tilted back and the airways open, try to feel the breathing of the child. The checking of the breathing signs should not last more than ten seconds. Checking of breathing signs in children is done by putting your head next to the mouth and turning your face to look towards the feet. In this position, one is able to see if the chest is rising and falling in a breathing pattern and also listen for the breathing sounds. If there is breathing, it can be felt by the person on his neck.

  • Two gentle rescue breaths.

If the person discovers that the child is not breathing, he should give to the child two little breaths. These should last roughly a second each. Then you cover the child’s mouth with yours and then exhale into his lungs until his chest rises. There should be pauses between the rescue breaths to allow air to flow back out. The lungs of the child are smaller than that of the adult performing the CPR therefore he should note that he doesn’t exhale his full breath into the child’s lung.

  • Chest compressions.

While still in the lying position, one should place two fingers at the center of the child’s chest and then compress the chest to about one and a half inches. This is pushed down and the compressions need to be smooth. Jerky compressions can harm the baby. The compressions should be thirty at the average rate of one hundred compressions per minute. After the thirty compressions, two rescue breaths should be given as described above.

  • Repeat the compressions.

Repeat the series of the compressions and the two rescue breaths. If one is alone with the child, he should then ensure that he gets to call the emergency medical team. The compressions and the rescue breaths should continue until help arrives. Get the bay to the hospital even if he looks to have gained health when the help arrives.

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