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CPR - infant - Overview

Alternative Names

Rescue breathing and chest compressions - infant; Resuscitation - cardiopulmonary - infant; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - infant

Definition of CPR - infant:

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a lifesaving procedure that is done when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. This may happen after drowning, suffocation, choking, or other injuries. CPR involves:

Rescue breathing, which provides oxygen to the lungs.
Chest compressions, which keep the blood flowing.

Permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes if blood flow stops. Therefore, you must continue these procedures until the infant's heartbeat and breathing return, or trained medical help arrives.

This article discusses CPR done on an infant.

Considerations:

CPR can be lifesaving, but it is best done by someone trained in an accredited CPR course. The procedures described here are not a substitute for CPR training.

All parents and those who take care of children should learn infant and child CPR if they haven't already. See www.americanheart.org for classes near you.

The newest techniques emphasize compression over rescue breathing and airway, reversing long-standing practice.

Causes:

There are many things that cause an infant's heartbeat and breathing to stop. Some reasons you may need to do CPR on an infant include:

Choking
Drowning
Electrical shock
Excessive bleeding
Head trauma or serious injury
Lung disease
Poisoning
Suffocation

CPR - infant - series

Reviewed last on: 9/2/2011
Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Hazinski MF, Samson R, Schexnayder S. 2010 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Providers. American Heart Association. November 2010.

Unconsciousness - first aid

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