Final answer:
In CPR, an infant is defined as a child under one year of age. The compression technique for infants involves using two fingers (or two-thumb encircling hands if another rescuer is available), on the lower half of the sternum with a depth of about 4 cm. Training is crucial for proper technique and to avoid injury.
Step-by-step explanation:
For purposes of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), an infant is typically defined as a child under one year of age. The hand placement and compression depth during CPR are indeed different for infants compared to older children and adults.
For infants, instead of using the flat portion of one hand on the sternum as done with adults, rescuers use two fingers for compressions if they are alone, and the two-thumb encircling hands technique if another rescuer is available to help. The correct hand placement is on the lower half of the sternum, just below an imaginary line running between the nipples. The compression depth should be at least one third the depth of the chest, approximately 4 cm (1.5 inches), and at a rate of at least 100-120 compressions per minute, but not to exceed 150 compressions per minute.
It is important that individuals providing CPR to infants have proper training to avoid complications such as broken ribs or other severe damage. Proper training ensures that you are well-versed with the technique and are able to adjust between the different requirements for infants and older patients.