CPR for Children

Chest compressions and rescue breaths adapted for ages 1 to 8

Step by Step

Call emergency services immediately if a child is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Children usually need 5 initial rescue breaths before compressions: tilt the head, lift the chin, and give breaths small enough to gently raise the chest, each lasting about a second. Then push on the lower half of the breastbone with one or two hands, about one third of the depth of the chest, at 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Use cycles of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Children most often arrest from breathing causes, so breaths matter more than in adults. Use an AED as soon as it arrives, with pediatric pads or a child mode if available, and follow its prompts.