CPR for Children (Ages 1-8)

CPR for children is similar CPR for adults. The compression to ventilation ratio is 30:2. There are, however, 3 differences.

1) If you are alone with the child give two minutes of CPR before calling 911

2) Use the heel of one hand as for adults for chest compressions

3) Press the sternum approximately on third the depth of the chest

CPR for Infants  (Age <1)

Shout and Tap Shout and gently tap the child on the shoulder. If there is no response, position the infant on his or her back Open The Airway Open the airway using a head tilt lifting of chin. Do not tilt the head too far back. Give 2 Gentle Breaths If the baby is NOT breathing give 2 small gentle breaths. Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth. Each breath should be 1 second long. You should see the baby's chest rise with each breath.   Give 30 Compressions Give 30 gentle chest compressions at the rate of 100 per minute. Use two or three fingers in the center of the chest just below the nipples. Press down approximately one-third the depth of the chest. Repeat Repeat with 2 breath and 30 compressions. After two minutes of repeated cycles call 911 and continue giving breaths and compressions. CPR for Cats & Dogs

CPR for cats and dogs is similar to CPR for humans These directions assume the animal is unconscious and the risk of being bitten by the animal is not present 1. First open the mouth and make sure the air passage is clear. Remove any obstruction. 2. Next extend the head and give several artificial respirations:

The animal should be placed with the right side down.  In small animals (cats and small dogs) compressions should be performed over the heart (which is at the 5th-6th intercostal space).  In large dogs, compressions should be performed over the largest part of the thorax.  We perform chest compressions at a rate of 80-100 per minute regardless of the size of the animal.  There should be a 1:1 compression to relaxation ratio, and the chest should be compressed 30% of the chest wall diameter.

We ventilate patients during CPR at 10-12 breaths per minute.  If the patient has severe pre-existing pulmonary disease, we ventilate at 12-15 breaths per minute.  This is regardless of the size of the animal.  Previous recommendations were for a breathing rate of 20-24 breaths per minute, but research has shown that excessive ventilation rates decrease the success of CPR in animals and decrease perfusion of the heart and lungs.  In addition, the focus should definitely be on chest compressions, and the more breaths the person is trying to take for the animal, the less chest compressions are being performed