According to the American Heart Association's® guidelines, Child CPR is administered to victims under the age of 8. Children have a much better chance of survival if CPR is performed immediately.
Child CPR
Before you begin
The most common reasons that children stop breathing and their heart stops beating are the following:
- Choking, suffocation, and strangulation
- Drowning
- Injuries
- Poisoning
- Infection
- Heart disease, brain disease or medical conditions that affect breathing
Check for responsiveness. Shake or tap the child gently. See if the child moves or makes a noise. Shout, "Are you OK?" If there is no response, shout for help. Send someone to call 911. Do not leave the child alone to call 911 until you have given about 1-2 minutes of CPR.