Basic life support in paediatric patients

The important principles of paediatric basic life support are of:

• early diagnosis and treatment of cardiorespiratory insufficiency to avoid the development of cardiac arrest
  
  
• Establishing a clear airway and oxygenation are the most important actions in paediatric resuscitation

Assessment and treatment should be commenced immediately to prevent any further deterioration in the child, and procedures should be adjusted according to the age of the child. In the sections which follow a distinction is made between the treatment of infants less than one year old, and children from the age of 1 year to adulthood.

Note that if foreign body aspiration is strongly suspected, the treatments for choking should be commenced immediately.