CPR for an infant: Rescue mouth-to-mouth breaths

Authors: Rednenko V.V., Poplavets E.V.

Editor: Rednenko V.V.

Clinical situation:

You are at home. A frightened neighbor has come running to you for help. She said her 8-month-old son was playing with toys and suddenly began coughing and choking heavily. Arriving at her apartment, you found an infant  lying on the floor with no signs of life. The infant is not breathing. Give the infant rescue breaths by “mouth-to-mouth”

Equipment for the practical skill:

• protective medical gloves;
• СPR simulator;
• medical mask or face shild.

The procedure for performing a practical skill:

• Put on the medical mask or use a special face mask.
• Take a kneeling position at the side of the infant’s head.
• Open the airway:
  • Put one hand on their forehead.
  • Place your fingers on the bony part of their chin.
  • Gently tilt the head back while lifting the chin. Be careful not to tilt the head too far back as this can block the airway. Be sure to press on the bony part of the chin and not the soft part under the chin as pressing the soft part may also block the airway.

• Hold the airway open as described above by gently pressing forehead back and lifting chin with your fingers.
• Seal your mouth around the infant’s mouth and nose.

• Take the volume of air inside your mouth with inflated cheeks.
• Do a gentle exhale for a tiny puff of air using the air inside your mouth with your cheek muscles without using your respiratory muscles and the air in your lungs. Blow for one second and watch the chest rise.
• Repeat for a second breath