CPR for Every Age: A Comprehensive Guide for Adults, Children, and Infants CPR
- Apr 6
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 25
Imagine this: you're at a restaurant, a park, or even at home, and suddenly, someone collapses. They aren't responding, and they aren't breathing normally. Every second counts. This is the reality of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a life-threatening emergency where the heart unexpectedly stops beating effectively. In these critical moments, knowing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can mean the difference between life and death.
CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or even triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest. It acts as a crucial bridge, manually pumping blood carrying vital oxygen to the brain and other organs until professional medical help arrives or the heart can be restarted, often with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
While the core principles of CPR remain the same – circulating blood and providing oxygen – the specific techniques vary significantly depending on the victim's age. Applying adult techniques to an infant, or vice-versa, can be ineffective or even harmful. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to perform CPR correctly on adults, children, and infants, empowering you with the knowledge to act confidently in an emergency.
Important Disclaimer: This guide provides essential information based on current guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. However, it is not a substitute for formal, hands-on training like Sherringford provides. Reading about CPR is the first step; practicing the skills under the guidance of a certified instructor is crucial for proficiency and confidence. If you reside in South Florida, you can schedule a class with us via the following link:
Otherwise, you can search for another AHA training instructor near you on AHA Atlas.
The Universal First Steps: Responding to Any Emergency
Regardless of the victim's age, the initial response sequence is critical:
Check the Scene for Safety: Before rushing to help, quickly scan the surroundings. Are there any hazards like traffic, fire, downed power lines, or falling objects? Ensure the scene is safe for you, the victim, and any bystanders. If the area is unsafe and the person can be moved, move them to a safer location. You cannot help if you become a victim yourself.
Check for Responsiveness: Approach the person.
For adults and children: Tap their shoulder firmly and shout loudly, "Are you okay? Are you okay?"
For infants: Gently tap the bottom of their foot and shout their name or "Are you okay?" Never shake an infant or someone with a suspected head or neck injury. Look for any sign of response – movement, moaning, eye-opening.
Call 911 (or your local emergency number) and Get an AED:
If the person is unresponsive: Immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. If you are alone, put your phone on speakerphone next to you so you can communicate with the dispatcher while starting CPR.
If someone else is nearby: Point directly at a specific person and instruct them clearly: "YOU, call 911 right now and come back! YOU, go find an AED!" Designating specific people ensures action is taken promptly. An AED is a portable device that can shock the heart back into a normal rhythm and is crucial for survival. Public places like airports, malls, gyms, and schools often have them.
Check for Breathing (Briefly): Scan the chest for normal rising and falling for no more than 10 seconds. Listen for normal breath sounds. Gasping (agonal breathing) is NOT normal breathing and is a sign of cardiac arrest. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally (or only gasping), they need CPR immediately.
CPR for Adults (Considered Puberty and Older)
Adult cardiac arrests are often sudden and caused by heart problems. Performing high-quality CPR is vital.
Positioning: Kneel beside the person, ensuring they are lying on their back on a firm, flat surface.
Hand Placement: Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest, on the lower half of the sternum (breastbone), between the nipples. Place the heel of your other hand directly on top of the first hand. Interlock your fingers and keep them off the chest.
Body Position: Position your shoulders directly over your hands. Keep your arms straight and elbows locked. Use your upper body weight, not just your arms, to compress the chest.
Compressions:
Rate: Push hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Think of the beat of the song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees.
Depth: Compress the chest at least 2 inches (5 cm) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm).
Recoil: Allow the chest to return completely to its normal position after each compression. This allows the heart to refill with blood. Do not lean on the chest between compressions. Minimize interruptions.
Rescue Breaths (If Trained and Willing):
Cycle: Perform 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. This is the 30:2 ratio.
Open the Airway: Use the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver. Place one hand on the forehead and push down gently while lifting the chin upward with the fingers of your other hand. This lifts the tongue away from the back of the throat.
Give Breaths: Pinch the person's nose shut. Take a normal breath (not a deep one) and make a complete seal over the person's mouth with your mouth. Give a breath lasting about 1 second, just enough to make the chest visibly rise. Watch the chest fall, then give the second breath.
Troubleshooting: If the chest doesn't rise with the first breath, re-tilt the head and ensure a good seal before giving the second breath. If it still doesn't rise, an object might be blocking the airway (though you continue CPR). Don't interrupt compressions for more than 10 seconds to give breaths.
Compression-Only CPR (Hands-Only CPR): If you are untrained in CPR or unwilling/unable to perform rescue breaths, perform continuous chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute without stopping until help arrives. Studies show Hands-Only CPR is effective in the first few minutes of adult cardiac arrest and significantly better than no CPR at all.
CPR for Children (Age 1 Year to Puberty)
Children often experience cardiac arrest due to respiratory problems (like choking or drowning) rather than primary heart issues, making rescue breaths particularly important. Puberty is generally defined by chest or underarm hair development in boys and breast development in girls.
Positioning: Kneel beside the child on a firm, flat surface.
Hand Placement: Place the heel of one or two hands on the center of the chest, on the lower half of the sternum. Use one hand for smaller children and two hands (like adult CPR) for larger children if needed to achieve adequate depth.
Compressions:
Rate: Push hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
Depth: Compress the chest about 2 inches (5 cm), or at least one-third the depth of the chest.
Recoil: Allow full chest recoil after each compression.
Rescue Breaths:
Cycle (Single Rescuer): Use the 30 compressions to 2 breaths ratio (30:2).
Cycle (Two Rescuers - typically healthcare providers): Use the 15 compressions to 2 breaths ratio (15:2). This provides more frequent breaths, beneficial for children.
Open the Airway: Use the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver. You may not need to tilt the head back as far as for an adult.
Give Breaths: Pinch the nose shut, seal your mouth over the child's mouth, and give 2 breaths (1 second each), watching for chest rise.
CPR for Infants (Under 1 Year of Age, excluding newborns immediately after birth)
Infants are delicate, and CPR techniques must be adapted accordingly. Like children, cardiac arrest in infants is often secondary to respiratory issues.
Positioning: Place the infant on their back on a firm, flat surface (like a table or the floor).
Hand/Finger Placement:
Single Rescuer: Place two fingers (index and middle finger) on the center of the chest, just below the nipple line on the sternum.
Two Rescuers (Preferred Method): Use the two-thumb encircling hands technique. Place both thumbs side-by-side on the center of the chest, just below the nipple line. Encircle the infant's chest with your hands, supporting their back with your fingers.
Compressions:
Rate: Push hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
Depth: Compress the chest about 1.5 inches (4 cm), or at least one-third the depth of the chest.
Recoil: Allow full chest recoil after each compression.
Rescue Breaths:
Cycle (Single Rescuer): Use the 30 compressions to 2 breaths ratio (30:2).
Cycle (Two Rescuers): Use the 15 compressions to 2 breaths ratio (15:2).
Open the Airway: Use a neutral or "sniffing" position. Tilt the head back only slightly, keeping the airway open without hyperextending the neck. Over-tilting can block an infant's airway.
Give Breaths: Place your mouth completely over the infant's mouth AND nose to create a seal. Give two gentle puffs of air (not full breaths), each lasting about 1 second, just enough to make the chest visibly rise.
The Role of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An AED is a sophisticated yet easy-to-use medical device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock (defibrillation) to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
Use it ASAP: Use an AED as soon as it becomes available. Do not delay starting chest compressions while waiting for it.
Follow the Prompts: Turn on the AED and follow the clear voice and/or visual prompts. It will guide you through applying the pads and delivering a shock if needed.
Pad Placement: Apply the pads directly to the bare chest as shown in the diagrams on the pads or the device. Remove any medication patches and wipe the chest dry if wet.
Age Considerations:
Adults: Use adult pads.
Children/Infants (Under 8 years or less than 55 lbs/25 kg): Use pediatric pads and/or an attenuator (energy reducer) if available. Attach them as directed (often one on the center of the chest, one on the center of the back). If pediatric pads are unavailable, use adult pads. Ensure the pads do not touch each other. If necessary, place one on the front center and one on the back center.
Minimize Interruptions: Continue CPR while the AED pads are being applied and resume compressions immediately after a shock is delivered, or if no shock is advised. Only stop compressions when the AED is actively analyzing the heart rhythm or delivering a shock.
Why Formal Training in Adults, Children, and Infants CPR is Indispensable
Reading about CPR is informative, but it cannot replace practical training. Reputable organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross offer certification courses. Here's why they are crucial:
Muscle Memory: Practicing compressions and breaths on manikins builds muscle memory, allowing you to act more effectively under stress.
Technique Refinement: Instructors provide real-time feedback on hand position, compression depth, rate, and recoil, ensuring you perform high-quality CPR.
Skill Integration: Training covers the seamless integration of compressions, breaths, and AED use.
Confidence Building: Hands-on practice builds the confidence needed to act decisively in an emergency.
Scenario Practice: Training often includes realistic scenarios, preparing you for different situations.
Q&A: You can ask questions and clarify doubts with experienced instructors.
When to Stop Performing CPR
Continue CPR without interruption (except for rescue breaths or AED analysis/shock) until one of the following occurs:
You see obvious signs of life (e.g., the person starts breathing normally, moving purposefully).
An AED is ready to analyze the person's heart rhythm, or it is delivering a shock (follow the AED prompts).
Another trained responder or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel take over.
You are too exhausted to continue effectively.
The scene becomes unsafe for you to continue.
🔖Conclusion: You Can Make a Difference
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any age, anytime, anywhere. While the techniques differ slightly for adults, children, and infants, the fundamental goal remains the same: to provide immediate life support. Knowing how to perform CPR correctly for each age group and how to use an AED empowers you to be a vital link in the chain of survival.
Don't wait for an emergency to happen. Take the next step: find a certified CPR and AED training course in your community today. Learning these skills takes only a few hours, but it could equip you to save a life.
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