Figure 6-3. Checking an infant for a brachial pulse.
a. If the casualty has an adequate pulse and has resumed breathing on his own,
begin checking for other injuries. Bradycardia is a common terminal rhythm in infants
and children; you should not wait for the absence of a pulse to begin chest
compressions. If a child has a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute and is showing
signs of poor systemic perfusion, you should begin chest compressions. Keep the
airway open and monitor his breathing. Administer rescue breathing or CPR if he stops
breathing. Evacuate the casualty to a medical treatment facility as soon as possible.
b. If you detect a pulse but the casualty still is not breathing, continue to
administer ventilations.
(1) Child. Administer ventilations at the rate of one ventilation every 3 to 5
seconds (12 to 20 ventilations per minute).
(2) Infant. Administer ventilations at the rate of one ventilation every 3 to 5
seconds (12 to 20 ventilations per minute).
c. If you do not detect a pulse and no one has responded to your previous call
for help, call for help again. If a telephone or radio unit is readily available, use it to
summon additional medical help. In the pediatric patient, it is important to phone "fast"
versus phoning "first" in the adult. Pediatric cardiac arrest is usually secondary to
respiratory arrest, phoning "fast" may deliver adequate oxygen fast enough to the heart
to prevent permanent damage. Then begin administering CPR (paragraph 6-6).
MD0532
6-6