CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

If your child has stopped breathing start CPR at once and continue until breathing resumes. Get someone else to phone for an ambulance.
If you are alone the baby should be brought to the phone with you when dialing ‘999’ so that the emergency operator can relay precise instructions there and then on how to start resuscitation so that the delay is minimal.

Rescue Breaths:

• Lay your baby on its back on a firm surface
• Remove any obvious obstructions
• To open the airway, tilt baby’s chin. Check baby’s breathing and if there is no breathing after five seconds, give two rescue breaths
• For rescue breaths cover baby’s nose and mouth with your lips and breathe gently into their lungs until their chest rises
• Check for signs of circulation, which include any movement, coughing or normal breathing.

Chest Compression:

• If there are no signs of circulation start chest compressions
• Place two fingers on the middle of your baby’s breast bone – just below the nipples
• Use your fingers to compress into the chest one third of its depth only
• Do this 30 times in smooth motions
• Give 2 rescue breaths into baby’s lungs and then 30 more chest compressions. Monitor the baby for any heart beats
• Continue with 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths until the heart starts beating or medical help arrives.