Infant CPR is a first aid technique that could save their life when their breathing or heart stops. The people who spend the most time around a baby, their parents, babysitters, family, and carers, are usually the first on the scene when something goes wrong, and they’re also the ones who can act in those critical minutes before an ambulance arrives. Anyone can learn infant CPR and be the person who saves a baby’s life.
When Does an Infant Need CPR?
A baby needs infant CPR when they are unresponsive and not breathing normally. An unresponsive infant will not react to your voice, touch, or gentle body movement. The most likely causes of incidents which require infant CPR include:
choking on food
drowning
respiratory infections
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
accidental suffocation
DRSABCD: How to Perform Infant CPR
DRSABCD is the action plan used across Australia to respond to any emergency where someone is unresponsive. Each letter stands for a step: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, and Defibrillation.
Danger
Check the area for danger before you approach the infant. Look for hazards that could harm you or the baby, such as fire or electrical wires. You cannot help if you become injured yourself. If the scene is unsafe, do what you can to make it safe or move the infant to a safe location before you begin infant CPR.
Response
Check for response by tapping the sole of the infant’s foot firmly and speaking to them. Gently move their body, but never shake an infant. If the infant does not respond, they are unresponsive and you need to continue through the action plan.
Send for help
Call triple zero (000) immediately or ask another person to make the call. Tell the operator you have an unresponsive infant who is not breathing. Use speakerphone if possible so you can start infant CPR while talking to the operator. Always follow their instructions and stay on the line unless explicitly told to start baby CPR.
Airway
Open the infant’s mouth gently and look inside for any visible obstructions. If you can see something blocking the airway, turn the infant on their side to let it drain out or use your little finger in a gentle sweeping motion to remove it. Do not poke blindly into the throat, as this can push any blockages deeper.
Breathing
Check for normal breathing by looking at the infant’s chest for movement. Listen for breath sounds from their mouth and nose and feel for air on your cheek.
If the infant is breathing normally, place them in the recovery position by holding them face-down along your forearm with their head supported by your hand slightly lower than their body to help any fluid drain from their mouth. If the infant is not breathing normally begin infant CPR.
CPR
Place the baby on their back on a firm surface such as the floor or a table. Place 2 fingers (your index and middle fingers) on the lower half of the breastbone in the centre of the infant’s chest, just below the nipple line. Press down on the infant’s chest to a depth of about one third of the chest, approximately 4 centimetres, then let the chest recoil fully. Repeat this 30 times at a rate of 1 to 2 compressions per second.
Keep their head in a neutral position and seal your lips over the infant’s mouth and nose together. Give 2 gentle puffs of air rather than full breaths due to the baby’s developing lungs. If their chest does not rise, there may be unseen blockages in their airway.
Continue the cycle of 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths until the help arrives, the infant starts breathing and responding, or you are physically unable to continue. If another person is present, swap roles to avoid fatigue.
Defibrillation
An automated external defibrillator (AED) should not be used on infants under 12 months old by first aid responders. Only a trained medical professional should attempt defibrillation as part of paediatric CPR for infants. Focus on chest compressions and breaths until the ambulance arrives.
Get Baby CPR Training to Save a Life
When a baby stops breathing, every second matters. Knowing how to perform infant CPR gives you the ability to act when action is the only thing that can save their life, and hands-on practice makes all the difference. We offer nationally accredited CPR training courses across Australia where you can practise infant CPR on manikins, learn to use a defibrillator, and build the muscle memory that helps you respond in a real emergency.
FAQs
Can I Learn How to Perform CPR through a First Aid Course?
Yes. A HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course is a nationally accredited training program that teaches you how to respond to a range of medical emergencies including CPR and infant CPR.
Can I Hurt the Baby by Performing Infant CPR?
Yes, however, the risk of not acting far outweighs the risk of making a mistake. Minor injuries like bruising can occur during compressions, while death can occur without infant CPR.
How Often Should I Refresh My CPR Training?
The Australian Resuscitation Council recommends annual CPR refresher training. First aid certification (HLTAID011) is valid for 3 years, but the CPR component still requires yearly renewal.