Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation

1-8 year resuscitation (CPR)

It is a lifesaving procedure performed when a child's breathing or heartbeat has stopped, such as in drowning or suffocation. CPR can save lives, especially if the person performing it is well trained.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation consists of:

• Mouth-to-mouth breathing, to deliver oxygen to the child's lungs.
• Cardiac compressions, which keep the child's blood circulating.

Brain damage or death can occur within a few minutes if a child's blood flow stops. Therefore, these procedures should be continued until the child's heartbeat and breathing return or medical help arrives.

Permanent brain injury begins after only 4 minutes without oxygen, and death can occur in as little as 4 to 6 minutes later.

The steps to follow are:

• Check for response. Shake or pinch the child gently. Observe if it moves or makes any noise.
• If there is no answer, ask for help. Send someone to call your local emergency number. The child should not be left alone to personally call the local emergency number until CPR has been performed for approximately two minutes.
• Carefully place the child on his back. If there is a possibility that the child has a spinal injury, two people should move the child to avoid twisting the head and neck.
• Open the airway. Raise your chin with one hand. At the same time, tilt the head back by pushing the forehead down with the other hand.
• Observe, listen and feel for breathing, putting the ear close to the child's nose and mouth. Watch for chest movement.

If the child is not breathing:

• Firmly cover the child's mouth with the adult's mouth.
• Close the nose by squeezing with the fingers.
• Keep your chin up and your head down.
• Give 2 mouth-to-mouth insufflations. Each insufflation should take about a second and make the chest rise.

Perform cardiac compressions:

• Place the base of one hand on the breastbone, just below the nipples.
• Keep the other hand on the child's forehead, holding the head tilted back.
• Apply downward pressure to the child's chest in such a way that it is compressed 1/3 to 1/2 of its depth.
• Perform 30 compressions, each time allowing the chest to rise fully. These compressions should be done quickly and forcefully without pause.
• Give 2 more insufflations. The chest should rise.
• Continue CPR (30 compressions, followed by two inflations, then repeat).

After about 2 minutes of CPR, if the child still does not show normal breathing, coughing or any movement, leave him alone if there is no one else and call the local emergency number (112).

Repeat mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart compressions until the child recovers or help arrives.

If the child begins to breathe on his own again, he should be placed in a lateral safety position, periodically checking his breathing until help arrives.