CPR on children

Fortunately, it happens very rarely that children are unconscious. By children we mean from 1 year of age up to they are adolescents. There are many similarities with CPR as in adults but remember that children are smaller – you should therefore be a little more careful in your compressions and breaths.

Start by providing a clear airway and check for normal breathing. If you do not find breathing start with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Now it is important to get guidance from emergency 113 on your phone, use the speaker.

The most common reason why children have cardiac arrest is that they have a breathing problem and do not get enough oxygen to the head and body.

Trying first give five breaths, to get the child’s breathing back up and running.

• Lay the child on the floor
• Sit on your knees next to the child’s chest
• Bend head back and pull the chin forward into a underbite – to keep the airways clear
• Cover the entire mouth with your mouth
• Squeeze the child’s nostrils
• Give breath gently and calmly (exhale for one second) until you see that the chest is barely rising
• Release your mouth, see that chest lowers, and repeat with new breath immediately
• Give five breaths

If the child does not start breathing, start CPR.

30 chest compressions

• Sit on your knees close to the side at the child’s chest
• Place one hand in the center of the baby’s chest, between the nipples
• Lean forward over your chest and keep your arm straight
• Press down approximately a third of the child’s chest and release completely again
• Give 30 quick compressions, the pace should be about 100 per minute

2 breaths

Now you only do two breaths – as described above, then a new round with 30 compressions. Continue with rounds of 30 chest compressions and two breaths continuously until the ambulance personnel take over or the child wakes up.