First Aid procedures: resuscitating children

Actions

Check for vital signs

• If child doesn't respond to gentle shaking of their shoulders, or calling their name.
• Open their airway by gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin
• Check for breathing, look for chest movement, listen for breathing and feel for the child’s breath on your cheek for only 10 seconds

If the child isn't breathing normally, give one minute of CPR – which is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths - then call an ambulance. If another person is present, ask them to call an ambulance straight away.

Giving rescue breaths

• Open the airway, carefully remove any visible obstruction from their mouth and nose, and give five initial rescue breaths.
• Pinch the child’s nose. Place your mouth over the child’s mouth and attempt 5 initial rescue breaths.

Then give 30 chest compressions.

Giving chest compressions

• Place your hands on the centre of the child's chest and, with the heel of your hand, press down 30 times (use one or two hands depending on the size of the child in relation to you)
• Depress the chest to a third of its depth
• Do this at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute

Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until emergency help arrives, or the child shows signs of regaining consciousness (such as coughing, opening their eyes, speaking or moving purposefully and starting to breathe normally).

If you are unable or unwilling to give rescue breaths, you can give chest compressions alone.

If the child is younger than one year old the procedure is different see resuscitating babies

The British Red Cross last medically reviewed this article in May 2011.