CPR ON BABIES
If the worst should happen and you think that your baby has stopped breathing - what should you do?
If there are two adults present - one of you should call an ambulance while the other deals with the baby.
But If you are alone with the baby - you should start CPR on the baby BEFORE you call an ambulance.
Your first "rescue" breaths should be delivered as soon as possible. Phoning an ambulance uses up vital seconds.
Your first course of action if your
baby has stopped breathing is
to make sure that he/she has a
clear airway and that he/she
has not choked on anything.

Support the baby as in the
picture and use your little finger
very gently to check for vomit or
other possible blockages.

If you find a blockage, remove it
carefully. This may solve the
problem and your baby may
quite obviously start breathing.

If not - move on to step two.
Lay the baby on a firm, flat surface
(a table is best) and lower your
ear to the baby's mouth. If the
baby is breathing you should be
able to hear and feel his/her
breath.

You should also watch to see if
his/her chest is rising and falling.

Another sign to look for is tension.
If the baby is fighting for breath
his/her muscles may be tense.
The baby may also kick if you
touch his/her feet. A baby who has
stopped breathing will be limp
and lifeless and will not kick.
If the baby is struggling to breathe
- a likely cause is a blocked
airway - and it must be cleared.
Support the baby on your forearm
as in the picture - with his/her
head low, and strike the baby
quite firmly in the centre of his/her
back. Strike up to five times if
necessary. If you remove a
blockage, the baby may cough,
gasp some air and start crying.
Either way you must check the
mouth and remove anything that
you have dislodged.
If the baby is not breathing, you
need to deliver 2 - 5 "rescue"
breaths. This will supply the
baby with some emergency air.
Tilt the baby's head gently
backwards and cover his/her
mouth and nose with your own
mouth. Deliver short gentle
breaths. It takes very little air to
inflate a baby's lungs - and they
are easy to damage - so deliver
enough air to fill a couple of egg
cups - and don't blow too hard.

You should also check the baby
for a pulse. This is best done by
feeling the baby's upper arm on
the inside, midway between the
elbow and the shoulder.  If the
baby has a pulse, continue with
the rescue breaths. If not, move
on to the next stage...
Your rescue breaths will put air into
the baby's lungs. That air now must
be pumped around his/her body. If
the baby has a pulse, his/her heart
will do the pumping, but if it the heart
has stopped, you have to apply
"compressions".
Do not use compressions if the baby
has a pulse. But if there is no pulse -

Place two fingers in the centre of the
baby's chest (just below the nipples)
and press down firmly. You should
use enough pressure to properly
compress the heart.
* See footnote for guidance about
correct pressure level.

Apply 30 compressions at a rate of
around 2 compressions a second.
Then give TWO more breaths - and
30 more compressions.
STRUGGLING FOR BREATH?
Phone
GETTING HELP
RESCUE BREATHS
If you are alone, it is essential that
you keep the breathing and
compression cycle going for at least
one full minute BEFORE you phone
for an ambulance.

Deliver those vital rescue breaths,
apply the compressions - and keep
going for four sets of breaths and four
sets of compressions.

Now phone for an ambulance.
If you have a speaker phone, put it on
speaker and continue with CPR.
Give the operator quick, clear
information. Your name, your
location, the age of the baby, and the
fact that he/she is not breathing.
Don't hang up the phone - leave it on
speaker. The operators these days
are trained to instruct and guide you.
Your first reaction if your baby stops breathing will be sheer panic. But in this situation every second counts.
YOU are with the baby - the emergency services are not.
And until emergency help arrives
YOU are the baby's best chance of survival.
So no matter how terrified you are, YOU must take control.
Keep the cycle of
2 breaths and 30 compressions
going until your baby starts
breathing on his/her own - or until
the emergency services arrive.
How to Perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Infants and Babies
COMPRESSIONS
CHECK FOR BREATHING
CHECK & CLEAR AIRWAY
* Regarding compression pressure.
Getting the pressure right is important. Too little pressure and you will fail to pump the baby's heart.
But too much pressure can cause injuries - broken ribs etc.
You can get a feel for the correct pressure now - by practising on your own thigh.
Sit down and press two fingers into your thigh muscle - don't tense the muscle.
You should press hard enough to dent the muscle, but not so hard that you hurt or bruise yourself.
The muscle should dent in and then spring back up as you release the pressure.
Now do it 30 times in 15 seconds. This is the correct pressure and speed for performing chest compressions on a baby.
No parent wants to even consider the possibility that their baby might stop breathing.
But if it does happen - you could give your baby a better chance of surviving if you know how to perform CPR.
Please familiarise yourself with the information on this page now - don't wait. It could make all the difference in the world.
Read the information - and then watch the video at the foot of the page.
Disclaimer
The information on this page should be regarded as hints and tips only.
The author or this page is qualified in First Aid - but he is not qualified to give medical advice.
The best way to learn CPR is on an organised course from a qualified instructor.
Baby Monitors
If your baby stops breathing -  it is essential that you react instantly.
A good baby monitor, correctly used, could alert you quickly if a problem arises.
The Top Ten Site is in favour of baby monitors - but only if they are used correctly. No baby monitor is a substitute for parental vigilance.
Read our  Guide To Baby Monitors  for more information.
And every parent should know How To Reduce The Risk Of Cot Death
This is a First-Aid training video covering CPR on infants and babies.
Watched in conjunction with the information on this page -
it should give you a clear idea of how to perform CPR on a baby.
Click the arrow in the centre of the box to watch the video now.

Baby Monitors