How to Provide Rescue Breathing for a Child

Many types of injury can cause breathing to stop, depriving the brain of precious oxygen. Rescue breathing - also known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation - can save a life.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Latex Gloves
• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• First Aid Kits
• Breathing Masks
• First Aid Classes
• Notebooks
• Pens

Initial Assessment

1. Determine if the surrounding scene is safe (see "How to Maximize the Safety of an Emergency Scene During First Aid").

2. 

   Determine if the injured child is breathing (see "How to Check Airway, Breathing and Circulation"). If not, continue with the steps below.

3. Position the injured child on his or her back, being extremely careful not to move or twist the head, neck or spine. If several rescuers are present, use their assistance to minimize this danger (for a related technique, see "How to Logroll an Injured Person").

4. 

   Maintain an open airway while you pinch the injured child's nose shut.

5. 

   Give two long, slow breaths, being sure to maintain a seal between your mouth and the child's.

Rescue Breathing

1. Check again for breathing and pulse (see "How to Check Airway, Breathing and Circulation").

2. Give one slow breath every 3 seconds for 20 breaths if the child is still not breathing but has a pulse.

3. Repeat the steps in this section until help arrives, until the injured child begins breathing again, or until you are too exhausted to continue.

Tips & Warnings

• Use latex gloves and a breathing mask to prevent infection and disease transmission.

• "Child," for these purposes, refers to people from approximately age 1 to approximately age 8, depending on speed of development. (For infants, see "How to Provide Rescue Breathing for an Infant During First Aid.")

• If breaths do not go in, retilt the head and try again. If breaths still do not go in, the airway may be obstructed (see "How to Clear an Obstructed Airway").

• Be careful not to give breaths that are too large, since the child's lungs are probably smaller than yours. Breathe just enough so that the chest rises gently.

• If you suspect a spinal injury (see "How to Rule Out a Spinal Cord Injury During First Aid"), do not tilt the chin to open the airway. Instead, with one hand on each side of the head, and facing the injured child's toes, put your index and third fingers in front of the earlobes and push the jaw forward and up.

• If this method doesn't open the airway, revert to the chin-tilt method: The injured child's most drastic need is for oxygen.

• If the child has a severe injury to the mouth, give breaths through the nose while keeping the child's mouth sealed shut.

• If the injured child vomits, turn the child onto his or her side - extremely carefully if you suspect a spinal injury - and wipe out the mouth. Return the child to the supine position and continue rescue breathing.

• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.