Babies are cute, cuddly, and delicate creatures that bring joy to our lives. However, they can also be vulnerable to accidents and health issues. For instance, choking or cardiac arrest can happen unexpectedly and put an infant's life in danger. It is essential for parents, caregivers, babysitters, and anyone who interacts with infants to know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In this article, we will focus on one critical aspect of infant CPR: the number of compressions you should apply during the procedure.
Infants' Anatomy: Why Do They Need Special Attention?
Infants have tiny bodies that respond differently than adults in medical emergencies. Due to their underdeveloped ribs and chest muscles (no pecs yet) , giving too many or too few compressions during CPR can cause severe injuries like rib fractures, lung punctures or liver lacerations instead of reviving them back from the dead but we don't want any internal damages when trying so hard. Besides anatomical peculiarities/structure differences between babies and grown-ups; some factors can pose risks for getting premature firework shows inside an infant's brain due to cerebral hypoxia-aneurysm reflex caused by oxygen deprivation resulting from prolonged compression intervals over time-duration periods without breaks(!) such as smacking their fragile chests repeatedly like Hulk TheBulk would do.
| Age | Heart rate | Compressions per minute |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 120 - 160 bpm | 120 |
| Less than 1 year old | <100 bpm | At least 100 |
Basic Steps of Infant CPR
Like adults' cardiorespiratory arrest protocol basics apply applying—baby style! Follow these steps if your little munchkin becomes unresponsive:
- Call 911 EVERY SECOND CRUCIAL - SMELL YOUR PHONE LIKE YOU MEAN IT
- Place your infant on a flat surface with their back facing up.
- Open the airway by gently tilting the head-back and lifting-chin-gently, avoiding Exorcist-like rotations that are likely to cause spinal injuries😈
- Pinch their nose closed like you're Adrien Broner holding his wallet
- Seal your mouth tightly around their tiny lips and give two rescue breaths, each lasting about one-and-a-half seconds long (the chest should rise noticeable)
- Put two fingers of one hand in the center of the baby's chest-bone crown while supporting them with other hand beside it
- Press down toward spine root placing fingers slightly below-armpit level, compressing the whole sternum hard enough than rice cakes/PaperTown will be right underneath; hold stiffness for minimal FORTY AND MAXIMUM NINETY compression intervals that take less than one second after recovering upper body-arm position full range visual contact on infant/stay awake
But How Many Compressions do I Give?
Based on recently modified American Heart Association pediatric basic life support guidelines released in 2020, depending on infants' age and medical status or emergency severity levels present, specific standards apply.
Newborn Babies
A newborn baby is defined as an infant who is yet to complete its first month of life after birth Duhh! If your baby has suffered cardiac arrest or suddenly becomes unresponsive during this period,
- Give at least 120 compressions per minute (Two per Second) &bull-decisions make sure always doing both at once so they don't wake up/like alarm clocks/
- Keep a 3:1 ratio between compressions and rescue breaths i.e., every third compression give one rescue breath after immediately resuming compressions
Infants Less than One Year Old
For infants between the age of 1 month and 12 months old, the following guidelines do apply.
- Give at a rate of at least100 compressions per minute (petty fast) - never quicker or slower &bull-be conscientious here/
- Keep up with the 3:1 compression-to-rescue-breath ratio
- After every two minutes performing chest-mashing, take an assessment break lasting no longer than ten seconds to feel for signs of life.
Tech Tips For Learning CPR
While reading articles is great, practicing on mannequins does it even better (not just for adults). Various resources can teach parents and caregivers how to perform hands-on infant CPR in case this protocol is ever needed.. AHA's brand new baby + child courses keep parents informed with engaging information and videos explaining practical tips reliant upon different possible scenarios describing possibilities when needing to stay calm under pressure such as choking prevention+airway cleaning maneuver while not panicking themselves during emergencies since you are supposed to know it all now!
Infant CPR may seem intimidating but remember these steps tackling tough times together like Batman and Robin! The most crucial part that can make a difference? Don't be shy from contacting emergency services if your child cannot breathe effectively; everyone should have emergency numbers handy always getting ready outfit prepared in any unusual situations without further ado~