Child CPR: A Life-Saving Skill Every Caregiver Should Know

Being able to perform child CPR is a vital life-saving skill for parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, and anyone who works with children. Children have anatomical differences compared to adults—more flexible bones, proportionally larger tongues, and narrower airways—which makes them more vulnerable to airway blockages and breathing emergencies.

Because children are also naturally curious and frequently place objects in their mouths, cardiac arrest in children is often linked to breathing or choking emergencies, making early CPR especially important.

When to Start Child CPR

Depending on the size of the child, you can utilize one or two hands to deliver compressions.

If a child (approximately 1–8 years old) is unresponsive and not breathing normally:

Start CPR immediately
If you are alone, provide CPR first before calling emergency services
If others are present, ask someone to call 911 (or local emergency services in Canada) while you begin CPR

Children are generally more resilient than adults, and early CPR significantly improves survival outcomes when oxygen delivery is restored quickly.

CPR Before Calling for Help (If You Are Alone)

If you are the only rescuer:

Begin CPR immediately
Perform 5 cycles (about 2 minutes) of CPR
Then call emergency services
Return to CPR as soon as possible

This approach reflects the fact that pediatric cardiac arrest is most often caused by breathing problems rather than heart disease.

Chest Compressions for Children

Use one or two hands, depending on the child’s size
Compress the chest approximately one third the depth of the chest (about 1½ inches / 4 cm)
Maintain a compression rate of 30 compressions to 2 breaths when providing CPR alone

Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions.

Rescue Breathing Considerations

Children’s airways are more delicate than adults’.

Use a gentle head tilt–chin lift
Do not overextend the neck, especially in smaller children
Deliver slow, gentle breaths—just enough to see the chest rise

Over-inflation or excessive head tilt can worsen airway obstruction rather than help.

Using an AED on a Child

If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available:

Use it as soon as possible, ideally after about 2 minutes (5 cycles) of CPR if you are alone
Use pediatric pads if available
If pediatric pads are not available, adult pads may be used following device instructions

AED use is taught in Canadian CPR courses and is safe and effective for children when used properly.

Why Child CPR Training Matters

Knowing when and how to perform child CPR cannot be learned effectively from reading alone. Hands-on practice builds confidence, muscle memory, and correct technique—especially under stress.

This information supports awareness but does not replace formal CPR training, which is strongly recommended for anyone responsible for children.