Chest Compressions
Mouth-to-Mouth (Healthy Casualty)
This procedure should be followed when you encounter the body of a child lying on the floor. The term 'child' is used here to indicate anybody who has not yet started puberty and is too large to be carried as a baby.
- Dangers: Check for your own safety and the safety of the casualty. In particular, look out for sharp objects, broken glass, electrical wires (ensure these are not live) and objects which may fall down.
- Response: Check to see if the casualty can respond to you. This should be done by tapping the shoulders on a child and asking “hello, can you hear me?”. Do not continue unless there is no response.
- Roll Over: If the casualty is face down, you will need to roll them over. Instructions on how to roll a casualty.
- Opening the Airway: Using your hand which is nearest the top of the casualty's head, place the edge of the hand onto the casualty's forehead, keeping the hand straight like a karate chop. Put your other hand under the casualty's chin (you should only use two fingers under the chin). Tilt the head back fully.
- Breathing: Place your cheek over the top of the casualty's mouth, so you can feel any air they exhale. Look at the casualty's chest and watch to see if it rises or falls. You should check for 10 seconds. If the casualty is breathing, put the person in the recovery position and call an ambulance.
- 5 Breaths: Holding the casualty's head back as detailed above, hold the nose, open the mouth and breath in. After inflating the chest (not too much), keep the mouth open and nose closed, turn your head to look at the chest and breathe in yourself. You should avoid breathing in what the casualty is breathing out, as they will breath out carbon dioxide.
- 30 Compressions: Perform 30 chest compressions using one hand. Pulling up the top of your hand, push down approximately one third of the chest depth. You should do approximately 100 compressions per minute, so 30 compressions should take 18 seconds.
- 2 Breaths: Give two breaths in the same way detailed in step 7.
- Repeat Steps 7 and 8 for 1 minute: Continue giving 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths for one minute.
- Call an Ambulance: Make an emergency call and request an ambulance. More Information about Making Emergency Calls
- Repeat Steps 7 and 8: Continue giving 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths until you are unable to continue or more qualified help arrives.
Citation: Handley, A.J. (2006). Life Support: Basic Skills to Save Lives. Broom: Royal Life Saving Society (UK).
