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Paediatric CPR and AED (infant and child)
What is paediatric CPR & AED?
Paediatric CPR is the sequence of chest compressions and rescue breaths used when an infant or child is unresponsive and not breathing normally. The aim is to keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and vital organs until a normal heart rhythm can be restored.
In infants and children, cardiac arrest is usually the end-result of breathing problems or shock rather than a primary heart condition, so opening the airway, giving effective rescue breaths and starting compressions quickly are critical. Automated external defibrillators analyse the heart rhythm and, when indicated, deliver a controlled electrical shock; modern devices with paediatric settings or pads can safely be used in children and should be applied as soon as they are available while CPR continues.
UK public health campaigns emphasise that calling 999 immediately and starting CPR without delay are critical actions when a child is unresponsive and not breathing normally; guidance to parents explicitly urges them not to wait and see in these situations.
Who needs this skill?
Health & Social Care
In health and social care, regulators expect staff to follow up-to-date Resuscitation Council UK guidance for paediatric basic life support, with clear local policies, regular training and equipment that includes paediatric-capable AEDs where appropriate. Clinical and care teams must understand how paediatric CPR differs from adult CPR, including the emphasis on rescue breaths and the use of paediatric pads or settings on defibrillators.Licensed venues & nightlife
Nightlife and licensed venues that run family events, daytime sessions or host under-18s still carry paediatric risk even if their core business is adult nightlife. Door teams, stewards and first aiders should be briefed on what to do if a young person collapses on-site, and how to use the venue AED on smaller bodies safely.Schools
Schools, early years providers and childminders sit directly under the EYFS and education regulator spotlight; they are expected to have enough paediatric first aiders on duty, to practise emergency drills and to know how to start CPR on pupils, babies and visiting siblings until the ambulance arrives.Workplaces
In workplaces that care for or serve children - nurseries, leisure centres, community venues, sports clubs and family attractions - employers should reflect paediatric resuscitation in their first aid needs assessment. That usually means having staff trained in paediatric CPR and AED use, clear site plans showing AED locations and drill-tested procedures for how teams respond when a child collapses.How to manage paediatric CPR & AED
- 1Check for danger and responsivenessMake sure the area is safe, then gently tap the infant's foot or the child's shoulder and speak to them to see if they respond. If there is no response, shout for help, open the airway with head tilt and chin lift, and look, listen and feel for normal breathing for up to 10 seconds.If the infant or child is unresponsive and not breathing or not breathing normally, treat this as cardiac arrest and move straight into life-saving actions.
- 2Call 999 and get an AEDAsk someone to call 999 or 112 immediately, putting the phone on speaker if possible so the call taker can coach you through paediatric CPR. Send another person to fetch the nearest AED; if you are alone, start CPR and only leave briefly to get an AED if it is very close and the call taker agrees.Early activation of emergency services and rapid access to an AED, while CPR continues, gives the child their best chance of survival.
- 3Start chest compressionsFor a child, place the heel of one or two hands in the centre of the chest and compress about one third of the chest depth at a rate of around 100-120 per minute; for an infant, use two fingers on the lower half of the breastbone. Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions and minimise pauses.High-quality compressions at the correct depth and rate are the foundation of effective paediatric CPR.
- 4Add rescue breathsAfter about 30 compressions, open the airway again and give 2 gentle rescue breaths, making a good seal over the child's mouth and nose (or covering mouth and nose in an infant), watching for chest rise. Then return straight to compressions and continue the 30:2 cycle, swapping rescuers every couple of minutes if possible to limit fatigue.Rescue breaths are especially important in paediatric arrest, where hypoxia is often the cause; they must be delivered calmly and efficiently without long breaks in compressions.
- 5Attach and follow the AEDAs soon as an AED arrives, switch it on, expose the chest and attach the pads following the diagrams; use paediatric pads or settings if available, placing pads as shown or in antero-posterior position on very small infants. Make sure no one is touching the child during rhythm analysis or shock delivery, then recommence CPR immediately when the device tells you to.AEDs are designed to be used by laypeople; following their prompts while continuing good-quality CPR gives the best chance of restoring a normal rhythm.
This guide is a learning reference only. It does not replace attended, assessed first aid training.
Qualifying courses
Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF)
2 days
3 years
Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) & Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid (RQF) - Combined
1 day
3 years
Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (RQF) & Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF) - Combined
3 days
3 years
Common questions
Practical answers for employers, venue managers, and healthcare teams about paediatric CPR & AED training.
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There are important differences: body size, hand position, compression technique and how you deliver breaths, but the basic priorities are the same – open the airway, check breathing, start compressions and add rescue breaths if you are trained. A good paediatric course will give you repeated practice on both infant and child manikins so you can adapt quickly in real life.
If you are alone and see a child suddenly collapse, you may be advised to call 999 first on speakerphone, then start CPR; if the arrest is likely to be due to hypoxia, guidance may suggest giving around one minute of CPR before leaving briefly to call for help. Dispatcher advice should guide you in real time.
Most employers and regulators expect paediatric first aiders to refresh practical skills at least every three years, with many recommending shorter annual refreshers or drills. Skills fade quickly without practice, so regular, scenario-based training makes a real difference when an emergency happens.