Order your free baby and child CPR book

Would you know what to do if a baby or child went into cardiac arrest? Order your free baby and child CPR book now and learn the skills to save a child's life. 

It's uncommon for babies and children to suffer a cardiac arrest – but if they do, it's crucial that whoever's with them knows how to perform CPR. 

Inside your new CPR book, called Aaron's Heart, you'll find a fictional story about Aaron, his mother Maya, and what happened when he went into cardiac arrest. It covers all the steps you need to take to provide emergency CPR to babies and children, plus emergency symptoms to watch out for and tips to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries that can lead to cardiac arrest.

Aaron's Heart is an important resource for your home and can be read anytime you need a CPR refresher. It's also perfect to share with your local school, your child's extended family, friends and anyone else who spends time looking after children. 

The book is available to order now for free, with a postage and packing charge of £3 per copy. Please allow 28 days for delivery. 

Order your free copy of Aaron's Heart now 

Alternatively, download a PDF copy of the book.

“Cardiac arrest in babies and children is not common. However it can happen through drowning or swallowing a small item like a button battery – so it’s still crucial for parents, caregivers, and anyone who interacts with children to know what to do in an emergency and help save a child’s life,” says James Cant, RCUK's CEO.

How to give a baby CPR

While you're waiting for your copy of Aaron's Heart to arrive, get started with our step-by-step guide to baby and child CPR.

Check for danger, then immediately follow these steps to give a baby (aged 0-12 months) CPR 

1. Shout for help

• Call the baby's name and gently tap the bottom of their feet to see if they respond. If there's no response, check for breathing. 

2. Look and listen for signs of normal breathing 

• Open the baby's airway by lifting the chin with two fingers and tilting the head back so that it's in a neutral position (not too close to the chest, and not too arched.) 
• Look for the rise and fall of their chest, and listen for breathing by putting your ear close to the baby's mouth. 

3. If they're not breathing, or not breathing normally, call 999

• Put the phone on loudspeaker and tell them you are with a baby who is not breathing or not breathing normally. 

4. The ambulance call handler will tell you what to do 

5. Give five rescue breaths

• Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth to create a seal. 
• Blow into their mouth and nose for one second, just enough to see their chest rise, then release and watch their chest fall.
• Repeat this five times. 

6. Start two-finger chest compressions

• Place the tips of two fingers in the centre of the chest. 
• Push down about a third of the depth of the chest (4cm), then release. 
• Repeat the two-finger chest compressions 30 times, twice per second. 
• After 30 compressions, give two breaths. 
• Continue with 30 compressions and two breaths. 
• The ambulance caller will help you. 

7. Continue CPR 

• Continue giving the baby CPR until the paramedic arrives and tells you what to do, or the baby shows signs of life. 

How to give a child CPR

Check for danger, then immediately follow these steps to give a child (aged 1-18) CPR.

1. Shout for help

• Call their name and tap them on their shoulders to see if they respond. If there's no response, check for breathing. 

2. Look and listen for signs of normal breathing 

• Open the child's airway by lifting the chin with two fingers and tilting the head back so it's in the 'sniffing' position. 
• Look for the rise and fall of their chest, and listen for breathing by putting your ear close to their mouth. 

3. If they're not breathing, or not breathing normally, call 999

• Put the phone on loudspeaker and tell them you are with a child who is not breathing or not breathing normally. 

4. The ambulance call handler will tell you what to do 
 

5. Give five rescue breaths

• Pinch their nose and cover their mouth with your mouth to create a seal.
• Blow into their mouth and nose for one second, just enough to see their chest rise, then release and watch their chest fall.
• Repeat this five times. 

6. Start one-handed chest compressions

• Place the heel of your hand in the centre of the chest. 
• Lift your fingers to ensure pressure is not applied over the ribs. 
• Push down about a third of the depth of the chest (5cm), then release. 
• Repeat the one-handed compressions 30 times, twice per second. (Use two hands for bigger children.) 
• After 30 compressions, give two breaths. 
• Continue with 30 compressions and two breaths. 

7. Continue CPR 

• Continue giving the child CPR until the paramedic arrives and tells you what to do, or the baby shows signs of life. 

Order your free copy of Aaron's Heart now