Does infant CPR save lives?

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On One Hand: Chance of Survival is Greatly Improved

According to the American Heart Association, early CPR can result in significantly higher long-term survival rates. If infant CPR is administered within the first three to five minutes of unresponsiveness, the chance of survival increases to greater than 50 percent. In fact, according to FirstAidWeb.com, "infants, just as children, have a much better chance of survival if CPR is performed immediately." If the procedure is performed correctly and no other medical conditions complicate the situation, infant CPR can certainly save a life.

On the Other: Proper Technique Must Be Followed

For the procedure to be safe and effective, the proper techniques must be used when providing CPR to an infant. When breathing into the infant's mouth, the breaths should be short and gentle. An infant's lungs are much smaller than adult lungs. BabyCenter.com acknowledges that "breathing too hard or too fast can force air into the infant's stomach or damage her lungs." Additionally, using too much pressure while giving chest compressions may cause damage to the ribs or sternum.

Bottom Line

Immediately providing CPR can double the infant's chance of survival. For best results, CPR should be provided within the first five minutes of unresponsiveness. However, the earlier the CPR is provided, the greater the survival rate. For infant CPR to be safe and effective, proper techniques must be used.

Source:

First Aid Web: CPR For Infants

CPR Dude: CPR Facts and Statistics

American Heart Association: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Statistics

More Information:

Baby Center: Infant First Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide

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Does infant CPR save lives?

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