Lifesaving Techniques Every Parent Should Know

As with infants, check the child for consciousness, breathing, pulse, and bleeding.

If Conscious but Choking
If you have a toddler who eats a variety of food, he probably seems to be choking more often. In a matter of minutes a child can go from choking to loss of consciousness. It is crucial to act quickly to remove an obstruction.

To verify an obstruction, look for the following signs: blue skin, no crying, problems breathing, and the possibility of loss of consciousness. If the child begins to cry or makes sounds, this is a good sign.

If your toddler is coughing or crying, most likely the airway is only partially obstructed. If this is the case, do not lay your child down or you might increase the obstruction. Coughing often helps remove the object. If you cannot remove the object, begin back blows and chest thrusts.

If Air Won't Go In
If the child is still not breathing normally, coughing, or moving, begin chest compressions.

• Use the heel of one hand for chest compressions.
  
  
• Place your hands two fingers'-width above the tip of the sternum. Press the sternum down one-third to one-half of the depth of the child's chest.
  
  
• In general, the chest should be pushed down one to one and one-half inches. Sometimes you may hear a cracking sound. Do not be alarmed. The sound is caused by cartilage or ribs cracking. Even if this occurs, the damage is not serious. The risk of delaying CPR or not doing CPR is far greater than the risk of a broken rib.
  
  
• Give 30 chest compressions. Then give two rescue breaths. Repeat the 30 compressions and two rescue breaths cycle until help arrives or until the child breathes normally, coughs, or moves.
  
  
• Continue to check for breathing and pulse.

If Not Breathing and No Pulse
If the child is still not breathing normally, coughing, and has no pulse, call 911 and begin chest compressions.

• Use the heel of one hand for chest compressions.
  
  
• Place your hands two fingers'-width above the tip of the sternum. Press the sternum down one-third to one-half of the depth of the child's chest (one to one and one-half inches).
  
  
• Pinch the child's nose, put your mouth over the child's.
  
  
• Give two gentle breaths followed by 30 chest compressions.
  
  
• Repeat these processes and continue checking for pulse and breathing.
  
  
• Continue CPR until your child begins to breathe on her own or help arrives.
  
  
• Take the child to the ER or your pediatrician. Even if a child appears to be all right, you need to verify that there are not any internal complications.

Look to see if anything is in the mouth. If there is any object in the mouth, remove it. Do not remove an object in the airway. If you cannot remove the object, do the following:

• Make a fist with one hand.
  
  
• Rest the fist against your child's abdomen, right above the belly button.
  
  
• Place your other hand over the fist and thrust quickly in an upward motion.
  
  
• Do this step until the obstruction is removed or the child begins to breathe or cough.

Look, listen, and feel for signs of breathing. Put your ear over the mouth and your hand on the chest. Then check for a pulse. In children, you should use your index and middle fingers and place them on the neck just below the ear. (Again, don't use your thumb because it has a pulse and may lead you to believe the child has a pulse.)

If you are alone with the child, give one minute of CPR before calling 911. If there is no response, call 911 and return to the victim. In most locations the emergency dispatcher can assist you with CPR instructions.

If Not Breathing
If you can't detect respiration do the following:

• Tilt the head back and listen for breathing.
  
  
• If the child is not breathing normally, pinch the nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise.
  
  
• Give one breath every three seconds. Each breath should take two seconds.
  
  
• Continue checking for breathing and a pulse.

If you are interested in taking CPR training, please contact the Red Cross to find out what classes are available near you.