eCPR Certification - CPR and AED Course

To perform CPR, remember the basic steps of CPR administration called CAB
C for compressions, A for airway, and B for breathing

C - Compressions

Circulation - first you want to verify if the child has a pulse. This can be done by checking the child's carotid artery. To locate, use the hand holding up the chin and find a voice box (Adam's apple). Once found, slide your fingers to the side and find if there is a pulse. If none found, you must proceed to External Chest Compressions.

External chest compressions provide artificial circulation. When you apply rhythmic pressure on the lower half of the child's breastbone, you force the heart to pump blood.

To do external chest compression properly, follow the steps below:

Kneel beside the child's chest. With the middle and index fingers of your hand nearest the person's legs, find the notch where the bottom rims of the two halves of the rib cages meet in the middle of the chest.
Now put the heel of one hand on the sternum (breastbone) next to the fingers that found the notch.

Put your other hand on top of the hand that's in position. Be sure to keep your fingers up off the chest wall. It may be easier to do this if you interlock your fingers.
When the victim is a child, you may use one hand for compression, instead of two (Difference 3). The compressions must be 1/3 of the depth of the chest, about 2 inches deep (Difference 4). Bring your shoulders directly over the child's sternum and press down, keeping your arm(s) straight.
Then completely relax the pressure on the sternum. Don't remove your hands from the victim's sternum, but do let the chest rise to its normal position between compressions.

The proper ratio is 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths. Keep interruptions to less than 10 seconds. Continue administering compressions at a rate of 100-120/min with 2 rescue breaths until emergency services arrive.

Important: As of October of 2015, the guidelines for performing effective CPR have changed. If the person is not confident in his/her abilities to perform CPR, he/she may administer Compression Only CPR. However, please note that conventional CPR with 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths is still advised for pediatric victims.

CPR and AED Course - Child (7 of 14)

C - Compressions