IF YOUR CHILD IS UNCONSCIOUS
If you find your child unconscious or if she collapses, following a routine known as the ABC of resuscitation is essential.
A check of the Airway.
B check Breathing.
C check Circulation.
FOR A BABY
• Check for a response. Tap her foot very gently to see if she responds.
• Open the Airway and check Breathing. Place one finger under her chin and gently lift it: don’t tilt her head back. Put your ear close to her mouth and fell for breaths, look along her chest for signs of movement.
• If your baby is breathing, cradle her in your arms so she is on her side. Gently support her head with one hand and take her to the telephone.
CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE
• Re-check breathing every few minutes until help arrives.
• It she is not breathing, begin breathing for her—Artificial Ventilation. Place her on her back, take a deep breath and seal your lips around her mouth and nose. Breathe into her mouth until you can see her chest rise, then remove your lips. Repeat this five times, giving one breath every three seconds.
IF YOUR BABY STOPS BREATHING IN HER COT
Picking or touching her up may be enough to restart your baby’s breathing. If she does start to breathe, you must still take her to the hospital immediately, as she will need to be examined by a doctor. It she does not start breathing or resuscitation, follow the sequence below.
• Check her Circulation. Feel for a pulse in her arm (brachial pulse). Place two fingers halfway between her shoulder and elbow and press against the inner side of her arm.
CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE
• If you can feel a strong pulse, she is still not breathing. Continue with Artificial Ventilation until the ambulance arrives; briefly stop ventilations every three minutes and re-check the pulse.
• If you can’t feel a pulse, begin a combination of Chest Compressions and artificial Ventilation (cardiopulmonary resuscitation/CPR). Place two fingers on the lower half of her breastbone, and press down to one-third of the depth of her chest five times; then give one breath of Artificial Ventilation. Continue alternating five chest compressions with one breath of Artificial Ventilation until help arrives.