Video:How to Know When to Give CPR to Toddlers

Transcript:How to Know When to Give CPR to Toddlers

Hello, I’m Alex Knight for About.com here to teach you about when to give CPR to a toddler. I’ve been a firefighter for 12 years and I’ve seen a child choking and emergency intervention necessary.

Certain Situations Require CPR

It can be a very scary moment to see your child choking but before starting CPR, you need to make sure your child can’t breathe. This is not a lesson on how to give CPR but a lesson on when to give CPR focusing on the warning signs of choking. Kids are exploratory by nature and as we know, kids will put anything in their mouth. So common choking hazards are food, toys, buttons and even more commonly, coins.

Signs of Choking that Call for CPR

So first, here is signs that a child is not choking. A child that is talking, coughing, gagging and/or wheezing. This means their airway is partially blocked and you should encourage them to keep talking or forcefully cough to help clear their airway. But, if you start to see you child start exhibiting signs such as the universal choking sign with the hands around the throat, a bluish tenting around the lips or a reddening of the face, these are signs that your child shortly could become unconscious which is a true medical emergency.

So if your child is not breathing, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately and begin CPR.I hope you found the tips helpful when trying to decide if your child should receive CPR. For more information, check us out on the web at parenting.about.com.