Rescue breathing provides oxygen to individuals who have stopped breathing but still have a pulse. This technique, also known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, is important for children, as timely oxygen delivery prevents serious complications. Understanding the correct methods and rates is essential for emergency situations, improving a child’s outcome before professional medical help arrives.
Defining a Child for Rescue Breathing
The term “child” in rescue breathing guidelines is defined by age and developmental stage. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), an infant is considered under 1 year of age. A child is defined from 1 year until signs of puberty, such as breast development in females or axillary hair in males. Individuals who have reached puberty or are older are categorized as adults for resuscitation.
These distinctions are important because infants, children, and adults have different physiological characteristics, requiring varied resuscitation approaches. A child’s smaller frame and developing organs are not suited for the same forceful techniques used on adults. Applying age-specific guidelines ensures the rescue breathing technique is effective and safe, avoiding harm.
The Proper Ventilation Rate
For a child with a pulse but no normal breathing, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends providing one breath every 2 to 3 seconds, aiming for a rate of 20 to 30 breaths per minute. This is an updated guideline, faster than previous recommendations.
Each breath should be delivered gently, lasting about 1 second. The goal is to provide just enough air to make the child’s chest visibly rise. Avoid overly forceful breaths, as this can cause issues. Visible chest rise confirms air enters the lungs effectively.
Why the Correct Rate Matters
The precise ventilation rate and volume are important because delivering breaths too quickly or forcefully can have harmful physiological consequences. Over-ventilation, providing too much air or breathing too rapidly, increases pressure inside the chest cavity. This increased intrathoracic pressure can reduce blood returning to the heart, decreasing cardiac output and diminishing blood flow to the heart and brain.
Excessive ventilation can also lead to gastric inflation, where air enters the stomach instead of the lungs. This can cause vomiting, posing a risk of aspiration (inhaling stomach contents into the lungs). The correct rate optimizes oxygen delivery without these side effects, ensuring the resuscitation effort is effective and safe.
Practical Application and Training
Rescue breathing is applied after confirming a child is unresponsive, not breathing normally, but still has a pulse. Before administering breaths, properly open the child’s airway using the head tilt-chin lift maneuver. This involves gently tilting the head back while lifting the chin for a clear air passage. For infants, a neutral head position is recommended.
Understanding these guidelines is a first step, but it cannot replace comprehensive, hands-on training. Practical skills like correctly positioning the airway, creating a seal, and gauging breath volume are best learned through certified first aid and CPR courses. Reputable organizations offer programs providing the experience and confidence to act effectively in an emergency.