LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 17, 2024) – Each year, over 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals. For infants under one year old, the survival rate to hospital discharge after such events is around 6.5%.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control states that unintentional choking and suffocation are leading causes of injury-related deaths in infants under one year. Nearly 3,500 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related causes, including suffocation, entrapment, strangulation, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
To enhance safety at home, ensure babies sleep in their own crib or bassinet on a firm, flat surface. Avoid placing blankets, stuffed animals, or crib bumpers in their sleeping area to prevent suffocation hazards.
New parents, grandparents, babysitters, and caregivers are encouraged to learn CPR specific to infants and children. If a child is unresponsive, not breathing, or only gasping, call 911 and start CPR immediately.
For a child age 1 or older:
- Press the middle of the chest 30 times at a depth of 2 inches using one or two hands, maintaining a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
- After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths.
- Repeat cycles.
For an infant less than 1 year old:
- Press the middle of the chest 30 times at a depth of 1½ inches using two fingers, maintaining a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
- After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths.
- Repeat cycles.
If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, use it immediately. AEDs often come with child- and infant-sized pads and can assist in CPR by treating specific heart arrhythmias. Continue compressions until emergency services arrive.
