Everyone should know the CPR procedures for saving a life, or in this case, an infant. Infant CPR is a little different from child CPR. Read the following article.
In order to prepare for CPR on an infant, prepare yourself. Be strong, and be calm. Do not get overwhelmed, worried. The best thing that you can do is to be calm, especially if there are younger siblings around. You are now ready to perform Infant CPR.
Start by shaking the infant gently by the shoulders: flick a finger on the bottom of a foot. If there is no response, have someone call 911 immediately.
When telling someone to call 911, look at them directly and eye to eye, and tell them in a strong voice to call 911. This way that person will know exactly what to do, and others will know as well. No confusion will be going on.
The next thing to do is open the infant's airway using a head tilt-chin lift. Place upper hand on victim's forehead, pushing it back. The fingers on the lower hand go on victim's jawbone, directly under chin, helping to raise it. Then check for breathing. This must be done in three to five seconds and is a three-way check. Rescuer's ear is close to victim's mouth to hear breathing, and feel warm air on cheek, as well as see movement in infant's chest.
Now you are going to begin mouth to mouth. Begin breathing. Seal the infant's mouth and nose with your mouth. Breathe twice, each inhalation one to 11/2 seconds. Pause one second or less between each breath, allowing chest to deflate. Now check brachial pulse on the inside of the infant's arm between the elbow and shoulder. Use the tips of two fingers and check for five to 10 seconds. Do not use the thumb because it has its own pulse. Now Prepare for chest compressions. Use index finger of upper hand and locate an imaginary line between nipples on breastbone. Place index and middle fingers of lower hand vertically next to index finger. Remove upper hand. Begin compressions. Using the two fingers, do five compressions in three seconds or less. Keep fingers on the breastbone during each upstroke.
Ventilate once. Fingers still remaining on the infant's chest, breathe once. Keep your eyes focused on the chest. Do 10 cycles of compressions and one ventilation each in 45 seconds or less. Check brachial pulse. Hold brachial artery again for five seconds. Ventilate again. Repeat compression-ventilation cycles. Check pulse every few minutes. Continue until medical help arrives, or until you can no longer continue. If you need any help with Infant CPR, see you local hospital, or doctor, or the American red Cross.
Never underestimate what a child can do - play it safe and assume that the child is more mobile and more dexterous than you thought possible. Never leave a baby unattended on a bed, table, or other surface from which the baby could roll.
Recognize what is age-appropriate for children - especially when choosing toys. Don't give infants toys that are heavy or fragile or that have batteries or small parts.
Create a safe environment and supervise children carefully -
particularly around water and near furniture. Know where your children are and what they are doing at all times. Never leave a baby in a mesh playpen with one side down. To reduce the risk of choking accidents, make sure children do not come into contact with buttons, watch batteries, popcorn, coins, grapes, or nuts. It is also important to sit with a child while he or she eats. Do not prop bottles, and do not allow a child to crawl around while eating.
Never tie pacifiers (or anything else) around a baby's neck.
Start teaching your child the meaning of "Don't touch." The earliest safety lesson is "No!"
I hope that this article gives you better knowledge, and hopefully you will one day be around a scene and save a life.
