Home – Our services – Children and young people – Specialty services – Neonatal unit – Family guide – Basic life support

Basic life support

How to perform basic life support - for families on the neonatal unit.

Demonstrating life support skills on baby mannequin - try to wake the baby.

Safety

Check the area is safe

Stimulate

Gentle try to wake the baby

Shout for help – If no response

A = Airway

Demonstrating life support skills on baby mannequin - checking airway
  • Lie baby on a hard surface on their back
  • Tilt head and lift chin

B = Breathing

  • Look
  • Listen
  • Feel
    FOR UP TO 10 SECONDS

if not breathing

Demonstrating life support skills on baby mannequin - giving breaths
  • Give 5 breaths

C = Circulation

Check for a response/normal breathing/signs of life

If no response

  • Give 15 chest compressions
Demonstrating life support skills on baby mannequin - chest compressions with two fingers

Continue to give

  • Two breaths to 15 chest compressions FOR 1 MINUTE

Call 999

Continue until help arrives OR there is a response

Choking

Demonstrating life support skills on baby mannequin - back blows for choking

1. Safety

  • Check the area is safe

2. Encourage the baby to cough

3. Shout for help

4. Back blows

  • Give up to 5 sharp back blows

5. If still choking

Demonstrating life support skills on baby mannequin - chest thrusts
  • Give up to 5 chest thrusts

6. If still choking

  • Repeat steps 4 to 5

Ensure an ambulance is called

If the infant loses consciousness at any time, follow basic life support sequence