Infant CPR

Yesterday my dad and I took an infant CPR class and I'm so glad we did! I took CPR in high school but hardly remember anything and it was adult CPR. Here are the basics:

Choking hazards:

• Hot dogs
• Grapes
• Popcorn
• Small toys - anything that can fit through a roll of toilet paper
• More!

Steps for CPR:

• Is the scene safe? If yes:
• Is the baby responsive?

If yes - help for choking:

• Hold face down (hold the head but don't cover the face)
• 5 slaps to the back (surprisingly harder than you think you would need to for a baby)
• Turn over - still holding with head towards the ground
• 5 pushes to the front near the breast bone with 2 fingers (3 for a petite woman or if holding a big baby)

If no (baby is unresponsive):

• Yell for help! Tell someone to call 911 and come back
• Check to see if the airway is open
• Check to see if the baby is breathing (look, listen, feel)

If yes (baby is breathing):

• Turn on side and monitor

If no (baby is not breathing):

• 2 breaths covering mouth and nose (if it's an older child, hold the nose)
• 30 pushes to the front near the breast bone with 2 fingers (3 for a petite woman or if holding a big baby)
• Repeat for 5 cycles before calling 911 if alone

Here's the clincher - it may feel awkward giving an infant CPR or applying so much pressure, BUT, if the heart stops there are only 4 minutes before the infant will get brain damage. It's better to do something and potentially break a rib (bones can heal) than to do nothing.