How Do You Perform CPR and Rescue Breathing on Children (Ages 1 to 12 years) with Tracheostomy?
You Arrive on the Scene
Check the scene for safety. Check the child for consciousness. Gently tap their shoulder and shout.
No Response
Call 911 immediately.
If the child is lying on their stomach, turn them over onto their back. The child should be lying on a hard, flat surface.
Check for Breathing and Signs of Life
Watch their chest for any normal movement. Look for signs of life and breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
No Breathing or Signs of Life
Begin CPR:
- Position the heel of one hand on the center of the child's chest, place your other hand on top.
- With your elbows locked and straight, lean over the child’s chest and compress the chest two inches in depth 30 times at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
- After 30 compressions, give breaths using a resuscitation bag attached to the trach. Gently squeeze the bag and give two breaths —just enough to make the chest rise.
- Continue with 30 compressions and two breaths, 30 compressions and two breaths, etc.
If Breaths Do Not Make Chest Rise
- Suction the trach tube. If the trach has an inner cannula, remove it and suction the length of the trach tube.
- Change the trach if it is plugged or dislodged.
- Give two breaths to the trach using a resuscitation bag.
Continue CPR until you see signs of life, another rescuer takes over, or help arrives.
Take a CPR Class
The Center for Simulation and Research at Cincinnati Children’s offers CPR classes for patient families. Call 513-636-6992 for more information.
