Baby Heimlich and CPR

Infant CPR is a critical skill to learn for medical professionals and parents.

Our goal is to learn which methods of infant first aid are the most effective. We will create a guide that can be used by individuals who have little to no experience with first aid. The target age will be anyone over 18 as those in this age range will be the most likely to be alone with infants of 0 to 12 months old.

Our instructions will be a guide for people unfamiliar with infant first aid. It should be studied and practiced with before first aid is needed. It will be for reference only, helping familiarize people who do not have professional experience in giving others first aid.

Step 1:

Hold the baby face-down on your forearm while supporting its chin in your palm.

Step 2:

Rest your forearm against your thigh making sure their head is lower than their feet.

Step 3:

Use the heel of your free hand to deliver up to 5 swift back thrusts between the baby’s shoulder blades.

Step 4:

If choking continues, turn the baby’s body so that they are facing upwards, supporting their head and neck

Step 5:

Continue to keep baby’s head lower than it’s body and keep your forearm against your thigh.

Step 6:

Use two fingers to give the baby 5 quick chest thrusts into the middle of the chest under the nipple line.

Step 7:

Repeat steps 1 - 5 until the baby faints. Call 911 then proceed to step 8.

Step 8:

Find a firm, flat surface and place the baby on its back. Stand or kneel next to the baby.

Step 9:

Give 30 chest compressions by pushing with two fingers just below the nipple line. Do this in a quick “One, Two” motion. The beat of Stayin’ Alive is a good example.

Step 10:

Put one hand on the baby’s forehead and two fingers on its chin. Tilt the baby’s head back to a normal position. Place your mouth over the nose and mouth of the baby.

Step 11:

Give two rescue breaths by taking a normal breath and blowing into the mouth and nose of the baby. Make sure the baby’s chest rises, if not, repeat step 10.

Step 12:

Continue doing 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until you notice signs of life, you have done two minutes worth of CPR, or until help has arrived.