Which statement describes a chest compression technique that is NOT appropriate for an infant?

Which statement describes a chest compression technique that is NOT appropriate for an infant?

• A. Place the heel of 1 hand just below the nipple line, on the lower half of the sternum
• B. Place both thumbs encircling the chest
• C. Use two fingers on the center of the chest
• D. Place the hands on the back between the shoulder blades

Answer: (A)

For infant chest compressions, use two fingers on the center of the chest (just below the nipple line) or the two-thumb encircling technique when there are two rescuers. The heel of one hand placed below the nipple line on the sternum is not appropriate for an infant because a single hand with the heel is too large and can deliver too much force, risking injury to the infant’s small chest and organs. The infant requires gentler, more precise compressions with two fingers or the two-thumb method. For context, the other described techniques align with standard infant CPR: two thumbs encircling the chest is recommended when two rescuers are present, and two fingers on the chest center is the common method for a single rescuer. Placing the hands on the back between the shoulder blades describes back blows, which are used for choking, not chest compressions.

For infant chest compressions, use two fingers on the center of the chest (just below the nipple line) or the two-thumb encircling technique when there are two rescuers. The heel of one hand placed below the nipple line on the sternum is not appropriate for an infant because a single hand with the heel is too large and can deliver too much force, risking injury to the infant’s small chest and organs. The infant requires gentler, more precise compressions with two fingers or the two-thumb method.

For context, the other described techniques align with standard infant CPR: two thumbs encircling the chest is recommended when two rescuers are present, and two fingers on the chest center is the common method for a single rescuer. Placing the hands on the back between the shoulder blades describes back blows, which are used for choking, not chest compressions.