Question

The area of external cardiac compression on an infant should be _______.

1) At the nipple line
2) One finger-width above the nipple
3) One finger-width below the nipple line
4) The upper half of the sternum

Answer 1

The correct area for external cardiac compression on an infant is at the nipple line, using two fingers to perform the compressions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The area of external cardiac compression on an infant should be at the nipple line. When performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on infants, it's crucial to use proper hand placement to ensure effective chest compressions. According to CPR guidelines, caregivers should use two fingers to compress the chest at the nipple line, which corresponds to the lower half of the sternum in infants. Compressions should be at least 1.5 inches (about 4 cm) deep and at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. This technique helps manually compress the blood within the heart, pushing it into the pulmonary and systemic circuits, a vital step to support the oxygenation of the brain and other organs.