You arrive on the scene: Check the scene for safety
1. Check for consciousness. Gently tap the shoulder or flick the bottom of the heel.
No Response
2. Call 911.
Check for Breathing and a Pulse
If the infant is lying on his stomach, turn him over onto his back. Put your ear close to the baby's trach. Look, listen and feel for breathing. With 2 fingers feel for a pulse on the inside of the baby's upper arm. At the same time look for signs of life and for breathing for 10 seconds.
No Breathing:
a. Suction the trach tube. If the trach has an inner cannula, remove it and suction the length of the trach tube.
b. Change the trach if it is plugged or dislodged.
c. Give 2 breaths to the trach, using a resuscitation bag.
Breaths Go In: Pulse But No Breathing:
Begin Rescue Breathing
a. Place the resuscitation bag on the trach and give one breath every 3 seconds. Count to yourself (1-1000, 2-1000, breathe, etc.).
b. Recheck for signs of life every 2 minutes or 40 breathes.
No Pulse and No Breathing:
Begin CPR
a. Position 2 or 3 fingers on the center of the breastbone, just below the nipple line.
b. Compress the chest 1 1/2 inches in depth 30 times. Give 2 breathes using the resuscitation bag (continue with 30 compressions/2 breathes, 30 compressions/2 breathes, etc.).
Continue CPR until another rescuer takes over, you see signs of life or help arrives. If you witness a sudden collapse, call 911. No pulse, no breathing begin CPR.
