CPR Chest Compressions for Infants

Video Transcript

"Hi again, I’m Michelle of the AD HOC Group. Infant compressions are done with two fingers; it doesn’t matter if you use your index and middle fingers or your middle and ring fingers, as long as you do effective compressions. In this section, we’re going to learn how to do compressions. Place your fingers length wise on the sternum with the edge of the upper finger along an imaginary line running across the nipples. Be sure the lower finger doesn’t extend off the sternum where it will press down on the notch where the lower ribs meet the sternum, that’s they zyphoid and it’s very sharp, shaped like an arrow head. Pressing on it can cut into internal organs, so please be sure to avoid pressing in that area. Compress one-half to one-third of the depth of the chest at a rate of about a hundred a minute. Do thirty compressions and then give two breaths. Continue for two minutes, if necessary, carry the baby with you to the phone, doing the CPR for two minutes helps the infant return to a functional level of oxygen for his brain and his vital organs, so giving two minutes of CPR gives him a little more time while you call for help. Also, most infant emergencies involve respiratory arrest rather than heart problems, giving two minutes of CPR may revive the infant and he may be able to breathe on his own while you’re calling for help. "