Unconscious Child 1 to 12 years old: What is the recommended CPR cycle?

• A. 30 compressions, check for foreign object, and give two rescue breaths; repeat until the object is cleared and breaths go in.
• B. 50 compressions, then one breath; repeat.
• C. Two breaths only until conscious.
• D. Abdominal thrusts only until the child resets.

Answer: (A)

In pediatric CPR for an unconscious child (1–12 years), the goal is to both circulate blood and oxygenate the lungs, even if choking is suspected. The best approach is to start with 30 chest compressions, then check for a possible foreign object in the mouth/throat and remove it if you can see and safely remove it, followed by delivering two rescue breaths. You then repeat this 30:2 cycle, continuing until the airway is clear and breaths are going in, or until help arrives. This pattern ensures there’s enough blood flow to vital organs while you attempt to ventilation, and it incorporates the choking step because a suspected obstruction can block breaths even as you compress.

The other options don’t fit because they either overemphasize compressions with too few breaths, omit chest compressions, or rely on abdominal techniques that aren’t appropriate once a child is unconscious.