Resuscitation is applied in order to prevent brain death and decline of the patient’s state. In other words, the act of resuscitation replaces the action of the heart, functioning as a life-saving action you must know to save your child’s life.

The most important factors that increase chances for survival after resuscitation are:

• Quick detection of distress or cardiac arrest
• Effectively starting chest compressions as soon as possible.
• Providing electric shock if needed

Babies require more care as they are prone to accidents and are unable to protect themselves. Furthermore, even the most trivial of things can become a hazard. When you do see a baby or infant experiencing a medical crisis it’s important that you provide the following first aid and CPR steps as soon as possible.

You may have taken our general CPR course but providing first aid to a baby is very different than administrating first aid care to an adult. The reason is that babies’ and infants’ bodies are built differently:

• Soft bones
• Bigger head compared to the rest of its body
• A big tongue
• Smaller and (occasionally underdeveloped) lungs
• A well-developed heart in comparison to the rest of its body

These characteristics have a huge impact when it comes to the pace and placement of the chest compressions, the protocol of the first aid and CPR, instructions and more.

During the fifth step of CPR, if you notice the baby choking, you must perform the Heimlich maneuver. Note, that very much like the CPR process, the Heimlich maneuver for babies, toddlers and infants is very different than for adults.

• Violent coughing
• Inability to cough, speak, cry, breathe
• High-pitched sound while breathing in
• Pale or blue-tinted face
• Child is clutching their throat

Lift the baby and flip it on its tummy. Have your arm tucked in between its legs, the arm supporting the belly and the throat, however the fingers spreading the mouth open (see video for reference).

Slightly tilt the baby forward while supporting its head. With your free hand, give the baby five back blows. Be sure to give the blows directly between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

Then, roll the baby on your other arm, supporting its head and neck. Then give five chest compressions while still holding the baby in your arms (chest compressions will be taught later on in this class).

Continue to provide cycles of 5 back blows and 5 chest compressions until the baby stopes choking or loses consciousness. If the baby loses consciousness, lay it on a hard surface (preferably not the floor) and begin CPR.

If the baby is breathing during the fifth step of the CPR, hold it on its side with its head slightly tilted back. The head should be supported and lower than the rest of its body. Holding the infant in that manner will help keep its airway open and ensure all the fluids drain out (vomit, saliva, the liquid he may have been choking on). In other words, it would help the baby continue breathing. You have to make sure that you monitor the baby constantly to ensure he doesn’t suddenly stop breathing.

During the fifth step of the CPR, if you notice that the baby isn’t choking but also isn’t breathing, it’s time to begin the active part of CPR.

Perform 30 cycles of chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.

Lay the baby on a hard surface and place one hand under the baby’s shoulder blades. Place your other hand in the middle of the baby’s chest – two fingers below the nipple line.

Use two fingers to push firmly. The chest should go inward for at least 3 centimeters. Make sure to release the pressure between each push, so that the chest can rise back up before you press down again. Press and release time should be equal. The angle of the compression should be 90 degrees to the infant’s chest. The compression rate should be about 120 pumps per minute, which is considered rather fast, but a baby’s heart does actually beat faster than an adults.

After 30 compressions open the airway and provide 2 rescue breaths. To open the airway, look into the baby’s mouth and check for fluids or secretions. If there are secretions, lift the baby and flip it on its tummy. Have your arm tucked in between its legs, the arm supporting the belly and the throat, however the fingers spreading the mouth open. Make sure to support the head and keep it straight to avoid spinal cord injury. Then, remove the secretions with the finger of your free hand.

Provide 2 rescue breaths. Put a hand under the baby’s shoulder blades to tilt the head back. Use your mouth to make a complete seal over both of the infant’s mouth and nose. Then blow in for no longer than one second. Make sure you can clearly see the chest rise.

Release the infant’s mouth and nose between the puffs.

Please note that according to American Heart Association a passerby is not advised to give rescue breaths. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths until professional help arrives. If you do not perform rescue breaths then make sure to continue doing compression without stopping at a pace of 100-120 per min.