Difference Between Children and Infant CPR Training

Robert E. O ‘Connor of the University of Virginia, School of Medicine, researched Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Infants and Children, in which the results showed a worrying trend. The mortality rates among infants and children exposed to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest stood at 80 to 97%. While 40 to 65% for those in the hospital. CPR can improve the survival rate from cardiac arrest in children that’s why parents and babysitters also need to take CPR training for children and infants.

While the search engine is registering an increase in online CPR certification near me searches, there is still the need for certified CPR practitioners, especially for children and infants. In addition, the physical-biological characteristics and natural habits put children and infants in a greater need of CPR.

What is CPR Training?

CPR is a lifesaving skill that provides first aid services to patients suffering from a cardiac emergency and airway blockage to save a life. The basic steps can keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until emergency medical treatment can restore the normal heart rhythm. Children and infants have a higher survival rate if CPR is executed immediately (hands-only CPR or Traditional CPR). One of the most important factors of proper CPR training is that it considers the differences between performing CPR on various age groups during an emergency situation.

Also Read- What Do You Learn in CPR and First Aid Training?

Key Differences Between Adult, Child, and Infant CPR

Adult, child, and infant have different needs when it comes to the execution of CPR. This is because of the variation of development in physiologists and structure, which leads to the use of different techniques based on the emergency situation. For example, the American Heart Association recommends starting with hard and fast chest compressions for adults, which can be different for what they teach on basic infant CPR class because they tend to be fragile.

Suppose you are a parent, caregiver, or someone else who is around children on a regular basis. In that case, you must learn how to perform CPR properly on children and infants when life threatening emergencies occur. Though there are some apparent similarities between CPR for adults and children, the differences are important aspects that you should consider receiving special training for infants and children. In addition, proper care must be monitored when undertaking CPR training for children, as using the wrong approach may cause more harm to infants and children rather than helping them.

CPR Training for Children and Infants

These days, CPR training for infants and children is essential because more than 50% of the infants in need of CPR tend to be younger than one year, with more than 6% requiring it at delivery, especially if the weight is 1.5 kg or below. The American Heart Association says CPR should not be delayed and must be performed immediately to restore blood flow.

The techniques used on infants during CPR training for kids consider the fragile and delicate physiological aspects of an infant. The procedure can be summarized as follows:

Checking the conscious state of the baby

Whether it is a child or infant, a CPR practitioner must put the victim on a flat surface such as a floor or table to check the conscious state of the victim before the CPR. Determining the conscious state can be achieved by taping on the shoulder or shaking the victim, which is not advisable for infants.

For infants, give a light and gentle stroke or tap the foot’s soles and watch for reactions, movement, or response.

The CPR procedure first, before Calling 911

Most certified trainers assigned to you during CPR training for children will tell you to start the CPR immediately if you are caught between calling for emergency response and performing CPR. This is because chances of survival in children increase by 70% when CPR is performed as soon as cardiac arrest occurs. If there is a second party within the vicinity, an emergency call and CPR can be done simultaneously.

Confirming the pulse

Unlike children and adults, where the pulse is checked using a carotid artery, we use the brachial artery for infants. This is because checking for an infant’s pulse requires you to feel the inside of the upper arm—this is where the brachial artery is found.

Provision of rescue breathing

Resuscitation in infant is different. Infants have very fragile and small airwaves, which makes their blockage easy. A lot of care also must be taken when tilting the head to avoid tilting it too far as it can block rather than clear the airwaves. When executing rescue breaths, put the child in a ‘sniffer’s position’ (tilt the head backward in a way that the child appears to be sniffing the air). Be very gentle with every move and breath. Ensure that only the cheeks are used rather than the entirety of the lungs.

Also Read- CPR vs Rescue Breathing: The Basic Difference

Execution of chest compressions

Given the fragility and size of the babies, only two fingers were placed at the center of the chest, and gentle chest compressions were executed. According to the American Heart Association Guidelines, the chest compressions should be 1-1 ½ inches with a frequency of 2 rescue breaths per 30 compressions. Push at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute. When you see normal breathing or signs of life, place the baby in a recovery position, on their side with the head tilted down.

CPR Training for Children

The child tends to have fragile physiological aspects with an even more flexible bone structure. This means that the bones are more likely to bend, whereas those of an adult will break. In addition, more physiological differences include a larger tongue than the size of the mouth and narrower airwaves. Combining these traits with the likelihood of them introducing foreign objects in the air tracks gives us a high percentage chance of children needing CPR more than adults.

More adults are encouraged to undertake online CPR/AED and First Aid certification to ensure that they can execute proper CPR should the need arise. Most certified organizations provide online CPR training that makes any interested candidate a certified CPR practitioner.

The proper techniques used on children during CPR training for kids are the same as those used in adults. The procedure can be summarized as follows:

The CPR procedure first before 911 Call

Just like any other online CPR training and certification classes, the instructions are usually to start performing CPR as soon as they occur before calling for emergency response. Given the reliance of the younger person, the chances of survival increased by 70% when the CPR is performed as soon as the cardiac arrest occurs.

The medical emergency response call should follow immediately after performing the CPR. The procedure includes five compressions and rescue breathing cycles for approximately 2 minutes. Give the first rescue breath and watch to see if the chest rises.

Provision of rescue breathes

When providing rescue breathing, care should be taken given the fragility of the airwaves of children. With the head slightly tilted backward, breathe gently. Therefore, the head should not be tilted too far to the back as it can lead to blockage of airwaves. Watch for chest movement. Each breath should take about a second and make the chest rise.

Execution of compressions

The child’s size will determine if one or two hands will be used to provide the compressions. When executing compressions, ensure that the chest compresses to 1 ½ inches because of the size and physiological developments. The ratio of compressions for children and adults is the same; this means that for every 30 compressions, two rescue breathes are needed at the rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. If the child starts breathing again, and you see signs of life, place them in the recovery position.

The AED Alternative

Should you have an AED or Automated External Defibrillator within the vicinity, you are advised to use it after five cycles of compression or approximately 2 minutes of performing CPR. The AED can be used together with pediatric pads.

If there has ever been a more significant reason to attend online CPR certification, saving a child’s life should be it. You don’t have to be a medical or pediatric practitioner to learn the skill because accidents like air blockages can occur anywhere, especially at home. By acquiring basic knowledge and skills that will enable you to properly execute CPR on a child or infant, you could save multiple lives.

The Best Online CPR Classes for Children and Infants

While there are things that you can do to help prevent accidents, accidents can still happen anytime, so it’s highly recommended that parents and caregivers know how to respond to a wide range of medical emergencies, as well.

The best way to learn CPR is to take online CPR Certification classes specially designed for children and infants. You can find these at your local American Red Cross location or any institutions that offer an online Infant CPR course. At CPR Select, our CPR and BLS certification online can be accessed across multiple PC and mobile platforms. You can enjoy a state-of-the-art user interface that is arranged, simple, touch-friendly, and quick to operate. Our certifications and completion card are accepted in all 50 states and internationally. In addition, we follow the latest healthcare guidelines from the American Heart Association for Emergency Cardiovascular Care and the American Red Cross.

Key Takeaways

Enroll Now for Online CPR/AED Training & Certification Classes at just $19.95.