CPR Child and Infant CPR 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the preferred two-rescuer compression technique for infant CPR?
- Two fingers
- One-handed technique
- Two thumb-encircling hands technique (Correct answer)
- Heel of one hand
Correct answer: Two thumb-encircling hands technique
When two rescuers are present for infant CPR, the two thumb-encircling hands technique is preferred because it generates higher coronary perfusion pressure.
Question 2: What is the correct compression depth for an infant?
- At least 0.5 inches
- At least 1.5 inches (4 cm) (Correct answer)
- At least 2 inches
- At least 1 inch
Correct answer: At least 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Infant compressions should be at least 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep — approximately one-third of the anteroposterior chest diameter.
Question 3: Why is respiratory arrest a more common trigger for pediatric cardiac arrest than in adults?
- Children have weaker hearts
- Children's hearts are more susceptible to arrhythmias
- Children's cardiac arrests are more often caused by airway or breathing problems rather than primary cardiac events (Correct answer)
- Children do not experience ventricular fibrillation
Correct answer: Children's cardiac arrests are more often caused by airway or breathing problems rather than primary cardiac events
Pediatric cardiac arrests are most often caused by respiratory failure (hypoxia) rather than primary cardiac dysrhythmias, making airway management especially critical in children.
Question 4: How should you open the airway in an infant?
- Full head-tilt as in adults
- Neutral or slightly sniffing position (gentle tilt) (Correct answer)
- Jaw-thrust only
- No tilt — keep the head flat
Correct answer: Neutral or slightly sniffing position (gentle tilt)
For infants, the airway is opened with a neutral or slight sniffing position — over-extending the neck can actually close the infant's soft airway.
Question 5: When performing mouth-to-mouth-and-nose rescue breathing for an infant, how much air should you deliver?
- A large adult-sized breath
- Just enough to see the chest rise (Correct answer)
- Two full breaths back-to-back
- As much as the lungs can hold
Correct answer: Just enough to see the chest rise
For infants, deliver only enough air to produce visible chest rise — over-inflation can cause barotrauma and gastric distension.
Question 6: Should a pediatric AED setting or dose-attenuator be used for children under 8 years old?
- No, adult settings are always preferred
- Yes, a pediatric attenuator or pediatric mode reduces the energy dose to a child-appropriate level (Correct answer)
- Pediatric settings are optional and make no difference
- AEDs should never be used on children
Correct answer: Yes, a pediatric attenuator or pediatric mode reduces the energy dose to a child-appropriate level
AHA recommends using a pediatric dose-attenuator or pediatric AED setting for children under 8 years old to deliver an age-appropriate energy level.
CPR Child and Infant CPR 2
What is the preferred two-rescuer compression technique for infant CPR?