Knowing how to perform resuscitation could save a baby's life

What is it?

This technique is for a baby (aged under one) who is unresponsive and isn't breathing.

Actions

• If baby fails to respond to a tap or gentle flick on the sole of foot, shout for help and open the baby's airway
• Check for breathing, look for chest movement, listen for breathing, and feel for the baby's breath on your cheek
• Do this for ten seconds
• If the baby isn't breathing, make sure someone has called an ambulance
• Carefully remove any visible obstruction from the baby's mouth and nose and give five initial rescue breaths
• Then give 30 chest compressions, and continue with cycles of two rescue breaths and 30 chest compressions

Giving chest compressions

• Place two fingertips on the baby's lower breastbone - one finger's breadth below nipple line
• Press downwards sharply no more than a third of the depth of the chest
• Do this at a rate of 100 times a minute

Further action

Continue the sequence until emergency help arrives, or the baby starts to show some response.

See resuscitating children if the baby is older than a year.