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Basic Life Support for Children over 12 months with a Tracheostomy

Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Check the area for DANGER to yourself and others

Check your child for any RESPONSE

• Nudge child's shoulder and call the child's name.
• If no response...

Shout for HELP (second person arriving to call 000 for ambulance)

Check Airway and Breathing

• Lie child on their back and lift chin to be able to see the tracheostomy.
• Check tracheostomy, remove humidifier and suction any visible material. A tube change might be necessary to remove a blockage.
• LOOK for chest movement.
• LISTEN & FEEL for warm air coming out of tracheostomy.

If not breathing... GIVE RESCUE BREATHS

• Place your mouth or resuscitation bag over the tracheostomy tube.
• Gently blow/give 2 breaths looking for chest movement with each breath.
• If your child starts breathing, turn them onto their side and remain with your child until arrival of the ambulance.

If your baby is still not breathing... LOOK for any signs of life

If no signs of life start Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

1. Visualise the centre of the chest: place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone (sternum).
2. For larger children you will need to use two hands - place the other hand on top of your first.
3. Start compressions. Push the chest down by one-third the depth of your child's chest. Give 30 chest compressions then give 2 breaths. Continue with this, aiming to give 100 compressions per minute.

4. If your child starts breathing, turn them onto their side and stay with them until the ambulance officers arrive. Call for help if you haven't already done this.
5. If your child shows no signs of life after 1 minute and an ambulance hasn't been called, take your child with you if possible and continue doing CPR or leave them on their side and go to the nearest telephone and call the ambulance:
• Dial 000... Ask for an ambulance
• Give your exact address, including cross-street & suburb
• Tell them you are doing CPR on a child
• Do not hang up
6. Continue CPR until the ambulance officers arrive or your child begins to breathe.

• Any attempt to resuscitate is better than none

The Children's Hospital at Westmead Tel: (02) 9845 3585 Fax: (02) 9845 3562 www.chw.edu.au	Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick Tel: (02) 9382 1688 Fax: (02) 9382 1451 www.sch.edu.au	Kaleidoscope, Hunter Children's Health Network Tel: (02) 4921 3670 Fax: (02) 4921 3599 www.kaleidoscope.org.au