Exclamation PointPlease call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.

CPR for Children

Call 911

For adult CPR, see Hands-Only CPR for Adults.

This article is a guideline. It is important to learn CPR to know how to do it correctly. For more information about a CPR course, go to redcross.org or heart.org.

1. Check to see if the child is conscious.

2. Check Breathing

3. Begin Chest Compressions

If the child doesn’t respond and isn’t breathing:

4. Do Rescue Breathing

5. Repeat Compressions and Rescue Breathing if Child Is Still Not Breathing

6. Use AED as Soon as Available

For children under 9 years old, use a pediatric automated external defibrillator (AED), if available. If a pediatric AED is not available, or for children age 1 and older, use a standard AED.

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD on January 24, 2012