Child CPR
CPR or Cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be life saving for someone who
is not breathing. This sheet is for Child CPR or children 1 to 8 years of age.
What You Need to Know
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CPR is a way of giving rescue breaths and chest compressions that
keeps oxygen flowing in the body. Your body needs oxygen to live.
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CPR may be different depending on the age of the person needing help.
Infant CPR – for babies less than 1 year old
Child CPR – for children ages 1 to 8 years old or before puberty
Adult CPR – for anyone 9 years and older

Anyone can take a class to learn CPR. Adults who have children or
work with children should take a CPR class. Contact the American Red
Cross, www.redcross.org, or the American Heart Association,
www.americanheart.org, for classes.
How to Do Child CPR
1. Check the child.
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Determine if the child is responsive.
Tap gently or shake the child’s shoulder
asking, “Are you okay?”
Call out for “help” and ask for someone
to call 911. Do not leave the child
alone.
Place the child on his or her back.
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2. Check for signs of child response.
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If child has no sign of response, there is no breathing or you are not
sure, begin chest compressions.
If child is breathing on his or her own, do not give chest
compressions.
3. Begin chest compressions, if not breathing.
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Place heel of the hand on the lower half of
the child’s breastbone just below their
nipples.
Press down on the chest ⅓ to ½ of the chest
depth. Do this 30 times quickly.
Stop CPR when the child shows signs of
breathing on his or her own or when help
arrives.
4. After 30 compressions, check for breathing.

Put your ear close to the child’s nose and mouth.
Look at the chest for movement.
Listen for breathing from the nose and mouth.
Feel for breaths on your ear.
5. If there is no breathing, open the airway to give 2 breaths.
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Kneel beside the child’s shoulder and lift the chin
up gently with one hand while pushing down on
the forehead with the other hand. This tilts the
head back into a neutral position.
Pinch the nostrils closed with the hand positioned
on the forehead.
Place your mouth over the child’s mouth. Give 2
breaths in 1 second.
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Watch for the child’s chest to rise with the air you give. If it does
not, the airway may be obstructed or the airway may need to be
positioned again. Reposition and give 1 more breath.
Take your mouth away from the child’s between each
breath so the child can breathe out (exhale).
6. Call for help.
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If alone when starting CPR, continue for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, Stop CPR long enough to call 911.
Take the child with you unless you think there may be
a back or spine injury.
7. Restart CPR. Continue CPR until the child starts
breathing or until help arrives.
Choking and Children 1 to 8 Years of Age
If the child is having difficulty breathing or is choking, you
will need to do something to remove the object that is blocking
the airway. The child may be unable to speak or cough and
may have his or her hands on their neck. This is the universal
sign of choking.
1. Ask, “Are you choking?”
2. Stand behind the child. Make a fist with one hand and place
the thumb side of your fist between the child’s navel and
breast bone. Grasp your fist with your other hand.
3. Give 5 quick abdominal thrusts by pressing your fist in and
upward.
4. Continue with abdominal thrusts until the object is removed
and the child can breathe.
5. If the child becomes unconscious or is unable to breathe,
begin CPR.
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Talk to your doctor or others on your health care team
if you have questions. You may request more written
information from the Library for Health Information at
(614) 293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.