Paediatrics Basic Life Support

Safety- Ensure the area is safe of imminent threats for both you and the patient
Simulate- Attempt to arouse the patient
Shout- For Help, Call for Seniors, automated external defibrillator & crash cart.
Check Airways, Breathing & Compression for 10 seconds
The airway in paediatrics should be opened with a head tilt/chin lift for children over the age of one, and with the
infant in the sniffing position. If trauma is suspected, then a jaw thrust should be used to open the airway (2
responders).
Head tilt is at the neutral position, i.e at the plane of the body, Sniffing position is similar to brow presentation.
Inspect airways for Foreign bodies or aspirate/vomitus. If present remove with MacGill`s Forceps or Yankauer`s
Suction.
In children aged 1 year to adolescence check pulse at carotid artery, in infants (< 1 year), check pulse at brachial artery

Deliver 5 rescue breathes. Reassess ABC for 10 sec.

If the pulse is less than 60/minutes, or if the victim has signs of poor perfusion after adequate ventilation
and oxygenation or in the absence of a pulse, the cycle of compressions to breaths should be 15:2.
High quality compressions in CPR should be a minimum of 1/3 the AP diameter of the chest, or approximately 1
inches in infants (4 cm) and 2 in children from age one to adolescence. The rate of compressions should be
100-120 per minute. Chest recoil should be complete between compressions.
Paediatric compression is performed with the head of one hand over the lower of the sternum, between the
nipples. In infants, use two fingers, or use the thumb encircling technique if multiple providers are available.
After 1 minute attach ECG leads and assess pt. rhythm

Shockable Rhythms
Ventricular Fibrillation, Pulseless VTAC
2

Asystole is non shockable.

In Asystole:
Check leads connection, Increase Voltage on read

In Paediatrics unlike Adult Medicine, the most common cause of collapse or unresponsiveness is
Respiratory/Pulmonary failure. The ratio of compressions to rescue breathe reflects this, as the aim is to assist
ventilation & perfusion rather that aid circulation.