As some of you may have noticed, Babies are not built to the
same specifications as adults and children. To begin with, they
are a lot softer, and they seem to have no necks! This makes the
ABC of resuscitation slightly different.
To begin with, lay the infant on a hard surface that is within
your reach. The floor is a long way down. Use a table, or
sideboard. Open the airway by tilting the head very slightly
back, not as far as you would with an adult. Check the breathing
in the normal way, but be aware that a baby breathes faster than
an adult or child, and you may not see chest movement.
Hopefully the baby is breathing, if so, instead of laying them
down in the recovery position as you would for an adult or
child, Pick them up and hold them, with the head slightly lower
than the rest of the body, and the back to your chest.
If there is no breathing present, you need to give some air.
Cover both nose and mouth with your mouth and give a small puff.
(Imagine blowing out a candle). Do this 5 times, not 2 as with
adults. Now check for signs of pulse.
Being smaller and softer, using the pulse in the neck can do
damage to a baby, Therefore we check the pulse in the upper arm.
Place the flat of 3 fingers on the inside of the upper arm, and
the thumb on the outside. Using a light pressure you should then
feel the brachial pulse. Is there a pulse present? Is it more
than 60 per min? If yes, carry on giving air and get help fast.
If the pulse is less than 60, assume no pulse and give chest
compressions. Again, there is a difference here. First, the
pressure point is about one finger below the nipple line. Just
use 2 fingers, and depress the chest about 1/3rd of the chest
depth five times then give one breath and continue at 5
compressions to one breath. (This must be on a firm surface or
the pressure will not go where needed). The chances of
resuscitating a baby successfully are higher than that of an
adult, if you do not panic!
For more information, Call your local Red Cross and ask about
training. You will be surprised at how cheap and easy it is to
learn how to save lives.
Reprint permission for Internet use (use on web sites or in e-
newsletters) is granted only if all information below this
notice, including the WWIO web site link and authors biography
are included as written. For use in other printed media e-mail:
dave@burns.enta.net
I am a Trainer with the British Red Cross. I am currently based
at Shrewsbury, Shropshire in the UK. And have been training now
for 7 years.
Most of the time is fun, but as any trainer will tell you, it
all depends on your class. There is always one that knows it
all, and one who just cannot grasp what you are saying.
I think that a trainer always needs to keep on top of what is
happening, and adapt their courses to the students needs. It is
also good to meet and chat to other trainers to get new ideas
and perspectives. This is the reason for this area.
DISCLAIMER:
First aid is not a subject that can be learned from books or
articles. To become a true first aider you need to undertake
proper training that will give you the opportunity to practice
in a safe and controlled environment. Neither I as the author or
the World Wide Information Outlet can or will be held
responsible for anything that happens as a result of this
article. Having said that, when a life is at stake, you should
at least try. Under the 'good samaritan' law, provided your
intention was to do good, nobody can touch you for it!
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