What guidelines should you follow when performing CPR? include the child and infant CPR guidelines…

What guidelines should you follow when performing CPR? include the child and infant CPR guidelines requirements: Head position, fingers or hand position for compressions.
Key actions before and during CPR
Ensure scene safety and check responsiveness.
If unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping, call for emergency help (or send someone to call 911) and get an AED if available.
Begin high-quality chest compressions immediately. Aim for a compression rate of 100–120 compressions per minute.
Compression-to-ventilation ratio: single rescuer 30:2 for adults, children, and infants; two-rescuer ratio 15:2 for children and infants.
For untrained rescuers or if unwilling/unable to give breaths, perform continuous hands-only chest compressions for adults.
Adult CPR (ages ≥puberty)
Head position:
Perform a head tilt–chin lift to open the airway (tilt the forehead back and lift the chin). Avoid excessive force that could hyperextend the neck.
Hand/finger position for compressions:
Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (lower half of the sternum). Place the other hand on top and interlock fingers or keep fingers lifted off the chest. Keep arms straight and use body weight to compress.
Compression depth:
About 2–2.4 inches (5–6 cm).
Compression rate:
100–120/minute.
Child CPR (approximately 1 year to puberty)
Head position:
Use a head tilt–chin lift, but tilt only as much as needed to open the airway. Avoid overextension of the neck.
Hand/finger position for compressions:
For small children, use the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (lower half of the sternum). For larger children, use two hands (one on top of the other) similar to adult hand placement if needed to achieve adequate depth.
Compression depth:
About one-third the anterior–posterior depth of the chest, roughly 2 inches (≈5 cm).
Compression rate:
100–120/minute.
Rescuers:
Single rescuer 30:2, two rescuers 15:2.
Infant CPR (birth to 1 year)
Head position:
Keep the airway in a neutral position — slight head tilt only, avoiding hyperextension. The neutral position is important because an infant’s airway can be easily compromised by overextension.
Fingers/hand position for compressions:
Single rescuer:
Use two fingers (index and middle) placed on the sternum just below the nipple line (center of the chest).
Two rescuers:
Use the two-thumb encircling hands technique: both thumbs placed on the lower half of the sternum with the fingers encircling the infant’s chest for support.
Compression depth:
About one-third the anterior–posterior chest depth, roughly 1.5 inches (≈4 cm).
Compression rate:
100–120/minute.
Rescuers:
Single rescuer 30:2, two rescuers 15:2.
Ventilations:
Give gentle puffs/breaths — smaller volumes than for older children or adults.
Additional important points
Allow full chest recoil between compressions.
Minimize interruptions in chest compressions; switch rescuers every 2 minutes if possible to avoid fatigue.
Use an AED as soon as it is available; follow AED prompts. For infants, use pediatric pads/attenuation if available.
Continue CPR until advanced help arrives, the person shows signs of life, you are too exhausted to continue, or the scene becomes unsafe.