How to Provide Rescue Breathing for an Infant During First Aid

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.

Things You'll Need

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

Instructions

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

3. Position the injured infant on his or her back, being extremely careful not to move or twist the head, neck or spine.

4. 

   Maintain an open airway while sealing your mouth over the infant's mouth and nose.

5. 

   Give two slow breaths.

Rescue Breathing

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

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

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

Tips & Warnings

• Use latex gloves to prevent infection and disease transmission; standard breathing masks will not work for an infant, since they are designed to channel air only into the mouth.

• "Infant," for these purposes, refers to people younger than approximately age 1. (For children older than infants, see "How to Provide Rescue Breathing for a Child 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 infant's lungs are far 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 infant'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 infant's most drastic need is for oxygen.

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

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

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