What to do if your baby suddenly has an accident? A complete guide to infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a must-learn for new parents

A friend who knows medicine around you / makes health easier

As a new parent, every cry of your baby touches your heart, but have you ever thought about what you should do if your baby suddenly suffocates, chokes on milk , or even has cardiac arrest ? The baby's body is extremely delicate, and ordinary first aid methods may not be applicable, and every second of delay may bring irreversible consequences.

Mastering infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills not only adds a line of defense for your baby's safety, but also gives you the confidence to respond calmly in an emergency.

Today, we will use the simplest and clearest way to teach you how to correctly perform infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation , so that you can become the most reliable "guardian" of your baby. Learning these can save lives at critical moments!

The following is the standard operating procedure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for infants (<1 year old). Due to the special physiological structure of infants, the operation needs to be more cautious:

Step 1: Quick Assessment

1. Determine the reaction: Pat the baby's feet or shake his shoulders (do not shake violently) and observe whether there is crying or body movement. If there is no reaction, take immediate action.

2. Start the emergency system:

•Single-person rescue: Perform 5 cycles of CPR (about 2 minutes) and then call 120 and get an AED .

• Multiple rescue: Immediately ask others to call 120 and find an AED, and start CPR at the same time

(Note: In case of sudden arrest due to suffocation/drowning, CPR should be given priority immediately)

Step 2: Check breathing and pulse

1. Observe the rise and fall of the chest and abdomen: Determine breathing within 5-10 seconds (panting, sighing-like breathing or no breathing are considered abnormal).

2. Feel the pulse: Non-professionals can omit this step; medical staff should check whether the brachial artery (inner side of the upper arm, thumb side) disappears (≤10 seconds).

Step 3: Chest Compressions (CAB Sequence)

1. Pressing position: lower half of the sternum (below the midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples).

2. Pressing technique:

• Two-finger method (single-person operation): Press vertically with the index and middle fingers (Figure 1).

• Encircling method (two-person operation): Encircle the baby's chest with both hands and press with both thumbs side by side (Figure 2).

3. Pressing requirements:

•Depth: 1/3 of the anteroposterior diameter of the thorax (approximately 4 cm).

•Frequency: 100-120 times/minute .

•The ratio of compression to artificial respiration: 30:2 for one person and 15:2 for two people.

Step 4: Open the airway and perform artificial respiration

1. Open the airway: tilt the head back and lift the chin (the head is tilted back at a smaller angle than that of an adult to avoid overstretching the cervical spine).

2. Artificial respiration:

•Cover the baby’s mouth and nose with your mouth and blow gently for 1 second (the amount of air blown is about 30-50ml, which is approximately equivalent to the volume of the oral cavity).

• Observe that the chest rises slightly for 2 breaths in a row (avoid hyperventilation).

Step 5: Continuous Cycle and AED Use

1. Cycle operation: Compressions and breathing are alternated in proportion until breathing/pulse is restored, an AED arrives, or emergency personnel take over.

2. AED use:

•Use baby mode first (with baby electrodes), if not available, use adult mode.

•Electrode placement: One electrode is placed on the center of the back, and the other electrode is placed on the outside of the left nipple on the chest (avoid overlapping electrodes).

Precautions

⚠️ Mistakes to avoid:

•When pressing, do not press your fingers on the xiphoid process (the end of the breastbone) to prevent liver damage.

•Breathing too vigorously may cause pneumothorax or gastric distension (a bulging abdomen).

•Do not cover the baby's chest directly with adult AED electrodes as excessive current may be applied.

⚠️ Special scenarios:

• Choking : First try 5 back pats + 5 chest thrusts ( Heimlich infant version ). If that doesn’t work, perform CPR.

•Premature babies : Apply gentler pressure and use the cradle method first.

⚠️ Post-resuscitation care:

•Resuscitation position after resuming breathing: lying on the side with the head slightly tilted back to keep the airway open.

•Must seek medical attention: Even if resuscitation is successful, it is still necessary to check for intracranial hemorrhage or organ damage.

Operation tips

• "If there is no response when you tap the soles of your feet, press two fingers on your chest 4 centimeters, blow gently through your mouth and nose, and put the AED on your back without hesitation."

• "The baby is fragile and moves softly, compression and breathing are proportional, and the cycle continues without giving up"

Important note: Infant CPR requires higher technical skills, and it is recommended to master the practical details through professional pediatric first aid training (such as AHA's Heartsaver Pediatric Course)!

*References: 1. Tencent Medical Dictionary 2. All Internet Resources 3. Picture from Toutiao

Author: Nurse Wang. A friend who understands medicine makes health easier.

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