BLS for Infants (0 to 12 months)

BLS for both children and infants is almost identical. For example, if two rescuers are available to perform CPR, the breath to compression ratio is 15:2 for both children and infants. The main differences between BLS for children and BLS for infants are (Table 2):

• Check the pulse in the infant using the brachial artery on the inside of the upper arm between the infant’s elbow and shoulder.
• During CPR, compressions can be performed on an infant using two fingers (with one rescuer) or with two thumb-encircling hands (if there are two rescuers and rescuer’s hands are big enough to go around the infant’s chest) (Figure 2).
• Compression depth should be one-third of the chest depth; for most infants, this is about 1.5 inches (4 cm).
• In infants, primary cardiac events are not common. Usually, cardiac arrest will be preceded by respiratory problems. Survival rates improve as you intervene with respiratory problems as early as possible. Keep in mind that prevention is the first step in the Pediatric Chain of Survival.

If you are alone with an infant, do the following:

1. Tap the bottom of their foot and talk loudly to the infant to determine if they are responsive.
2. If the infant does not respond, and they are not breathing (or if they are only gasping), yell for help. If someone responds, send the second person to call EMS and to get an AED.
3. Assess if they are breathing while feeling for the infant’s femoral or brachial pulse for no more than 10 seconds (Figure 3a).
4. If you cannot feel a pulse (or if you are unsure), begin CPR by doing 30 compressions followed by two breaths. If you can feel a pulse but the rate is less than 60 beats per minute, begin CPR. This rate is too slow for an infant. To perform CPR on an infant do the following (Figure 3b):
   • Be sure the infant is face-up on a hard surface.
   • Using two fingers, perform compressions in the center of the infant’s chest; do not press on the end of the sternum as this can cause injury to the infant.
   • Compression depth should be about 1.5 inches (4 cm)
     and a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
5. After performing CPR for about two minutes (usually about five cycles of 30 compressions and two breaths) if help has not arrived, call EMS while staying with the infant. The ILCOR emphasizes that cell phones are available everywhere now and most have a built-in speakerphone. Get an AED if you know where one is.
6. Use and follow AED prompts when available while continuing CPR until EMS arrives or until the infant’s condition normalizes.