Guest post: "Cardiac arrest in children is rare, but it’s vital that parents can spot the signs early and know what to do. In an emergency, every minute counts.’’

[NicolaDMumsnet]

Thankfully, it’s uncommon for children to suffer a cardiac arrest. When it does happen, it’s usually because of a severe illness like sepsis, asthma, meningitis, or a seizure. Or it can happen after an accident, like drowning or swallowing a button battery – so it’s important to take steps to prevent these kinds of things from happening. Remember to keep batteries and medicines stored safely out of reach and always supervise children around water.

However, as cardiac arrests are more likely to happen in or near the home, every parent and carer should know what to do if a baby or child has one.

In an emergency, every minute counts and starting CPR could make a lifesaving difference.

What to do if you suspect a baby or child has gone into cardiac arrest

• Make sure the area is clear of any hazards that could pose a risk to you or the child.

• Look, listen and feel for signs of breathing. If the child is not breathing, shout for someone to help you and get them to dial 999 for you and ask for an ambulance. If you’re alone, call 999 yourself.

• Put your phone on speaker so you can speak with emergency services hands-free, and all rescuers can hear the call. The ambulance dispatcher will ask you questions and tell you what to do.

• Prepare to give rescue breaths, which is when you breathe into the child’s lungs for them. Rescue breaths are extremely important for children who have stopped breathing as it helps to get oxygen to their lungs and brain.

• Place two fingers under the baby or child’s chin and your other hand on their forehead. Gently tilt their head back to open their airway.

• If you are giving rescue breaths to a baby (12 months or younger), fully cover both their mouth and nose with your mouth. If you’re giving rescue breaths to a child (over 1 year old), pinch their nostrils shut and cover their mouth with yours.

• Give five rescue breaths – allowing the chest to rise and fall normally. If there is no response, start chest compressions.

• To give chest compressions to a baby (12 months or younger), use two fingers. For a child (over 1 year old), use the heel of one or both of your hands, depending on how big the child is.

• Place your fingers or hands at the centre of the chest and give 30 compressions. Each compression should press the chest down by a third of its depth. Make sure the chest rises completely each time. You should aim for two chest compressions per second.

• Give 30 compressions then two rescue breaths. Keep going at 30 compressions and two breaths until help arrives or the child responds.

• If someone brings you a defibrillator, also known as an AED, then turn it on and follow the instructions. A defibrillator is like having an expert in the room – it speaks to you and tells you exactly what to do.

• Follow the defibrillator’s instructions. It will likely tell you not to give a shock, but to keep doing CPR. That’s because only 6% of children in cardiac arrest will require a shock. The most important thing is to follow its advice and have it there, just in case.

Learn more about lifesaving CPR

This summer, RCUK is releasing a free baby and child CPR book with even more helpful advice and information, packed with guidance and illustrations. Order your copy completely for free here.

You can find out more about learning lifesaving CPR skills on our website now.

Twitter: @ResusCouncilUK

Great to see the advice on here but it’s extremely unlikely to be a cardiac arrest, babies and children have respiratory arrests not cardiac. The correct terminology needs to be used

A respiratory arrest WILL be followed by cardiac arrest in a child if the respiratory arrest is not rectified . The heart won't be able to pump

Thank you for sharing this. First aid knowledge and talking about what to do in an emergency is so important.

Do community defibrillators have children sized pads? Children compensate for a long time so good to know what to do but hopefully help will have arrived prior or full cardiac arrest. I’ve seen full cpr done on children many times and it’s awful. I hope no one ever needs to use it. A good first aid course is very handy as cover choking etc too.

British Red Cross have two free first aid apps, simple to use and always available when downloaded:
https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/first-aid-apps

Thanks for your reply. Yes, a child is more likely to have a respiratory arrest in the first instance, but it will soon become a cardiac arrest if no action is taken. By doing the five rescue breaths first, you may then see signs of life, but if not, compressions will do no harm.

Hi Ailsamary. Thanks for your post.

Hi Howdolleave. Thanks for your message and I am glad you found it useful.

Many thanks FadedRed.
It's great that there are now so many easy to use apps/programmes that can be accessed for information. Do order one of our upcoming booklets from here and also take a look at our Lifesaver page Lifesaver | Resuscitation Council UK for more information too.

Hi Shopper727.
Thanks for your message. I totally agree that a good first aid course is very useful as it will cover a range of topics and allow you to get hands on practice too. Confidence gained from having information and gaining practice is really important as a cardiac arrest in a child is uncommon but frightening.
It is not common for a child to go into a shockable rhythm due to the usual causes of arrest. It can happen however, especially if the child has an underlying heart problem.
To answer your question about child sized pads and defibrillators, some may not have pads specifically for children. If that's the case, apply the pads supplied and follow the advice given. The device may also have an alternative such as a "key" to insert into the device which results in reducing the amount of energy delivered when it shocks.
I hope this helps.