DRS ABCD – Action Plan Infant

Use DRS ABCD as the primary approach. DRS ABCD is vital to identify life-threatening problems and the management required.

Early high-quality CPR saves lives. The purpose of CPR is to temporarily maintain circulation sufficient to preserve brain function until specialised treatment is available.

Danger

• Check for danger. If there is a danger stay away to call 000. First aiders’ safety is always the priority.
• If safe manage the danger or move causality away from the danger if possible, please be careful possibility of the neck and spinal injuries is always there.

Response

• Check for a response.
• Ask questions > Talk & Touch
• If responsive > keep them calm > check for injuries and bleeding.
• No Response > Send for help

If safe manage the danger or move causality away from the danger if possible, please be careful possibility of the neck and spinal injuries is always there.

Send for Help

• Call 000 or 112
• 006 can only be used with a teletypewriter (TTY)
• Send for a Defibrillator if available.

Airway

• Open mouth > look for obstruction > blood, fallen back tongue or broken teeth etc.

No foreign material

• Leave the causality which they were found in
•  Open the airway safely in the neutral position

Foreign material found in the mouth

• Face the infant in your lap or forearm with the head supported and mouth downwards
• Clear tough and foreign materials from the airway

Breathing

• Check for breathing > Look, listen & feel
• Look: Look for movement of the chest & upper abdomen
• Listen:  Normal breathing sounds, air escape for nose & mouth
• Feel: Movement of the chest

If breathing normally > undertake a Secondary Survey to check for other injuries, bleeding or fractures. Manage if required.

If not breathing normally >

• Back on the floor, head in the neutral position and commence CPR

CPR

• If unresponsive and not breathing > Start CPR
• Find the right spot for compression > under the armpits and middle of the sternum.
• Start compression with one hand on top.
• Use either one or both hands while performing chest compression in children.
• 30 chest compressions & 2 rescue breaths (30:2)
• Press down 1/3 of the chest (nearly 4 cm in  children)
• 2 breaths in 10 seconds, blow steadily in the mouth for up to 1 second
• Approximately 100-120 compressions in 1 minute, just under two in one second

Defibrillator (AED)

• Do not use AED on an infant (under 12 months), ask for direction from the 000 operator for advice.