Unconscious and not breathing - children

Recogntion and treatment

Look for

• To confirm if the child is unconscious and not breathing complete the steps of the primary survey - Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing (DRAB)
• If an AED is available refer to the steps for using an AED.

• Skip primary survey steps

Check for danger

• Are you or they in any danger?
• If you have not already done so make the area safe and then assess them
• If a child is drowning, only enter the water to rescue them if it is safe to do so, you have been trained to do so, and they are unconscious. Dial 999/112 for emegency help immediately for drowning victims.

Check for a response

• Shout a command at them:
  • 'Can you hear me?'
  • 'Open your eyes'
• Gently shake their shoulders
• If they respond, refer to the treatment for someone unconscious but breathing - children and adults
• Shout for help.

Open the airway

• Help them to breath by opening their airway
• To do this, place one hand on the forehead and using two fingers lift the chin.

Check breathing

• Position your cheek close to their mouth
• Look, listen and feel for no more than 10 seconds:
  • look to see if the chest is rising and falling
  • listen for breathing
  • feel the breath against your cheek
• If they are not breathing commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Call for help

• If you have someone with you, send them to dial 999 (or 112) for an ambulance immediately
• If you are on your own carry out CPR for one minute before dialling 999 (or 112) for an ambulance.

Give 5 rescue breaths

• Ensure the airway is open
• Seal your lips around the child's mouth and
• Blow gently into their lungs, looking along the chest as you breathe.
• As the chest rises, stop blowing and allow it to fall
• Repeat this five times.

Give 30 compressions

• Place one or two hands in the centre of the chest (depending on the size of the child) - it is possible to identify the correct hand position without removing the child's clothes.
• Use the heel of that hand with arms straight and press down to a third of the depth of the chest
• Press 30 times, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute
• After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths.

Continue CPR

• Continue resuscitation, 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths
• Do not stop unless:
  • emergency help arrives and takes over
  • they show signs of recovery such as coughing, opening eyes, speaking or moving purposefully and breathing normally
  • you become so exhausted that you cannot carry on.