The initial step described for first aid in a non-breathing child is

• A. Giving chest compressions
• B. Asking the child to breathe on their own
• C. Providing rescue breaths only
• D. Calling for help and waiting

Answer: (A)

When a child isn’t breathing, the urgent need is to restore blood flow to the brain and heart. Chest compressions push blood through the circulatory system, providing circulation and perfusion so oxygen can reach vital organs while breaths are delivered. Starting compressions right away minimizes brain injury and buys time for rescue breaths and professional help to do their jobs. Asking the child to breathe on their own isn’t reliable in an emergency, and rescue breaths alone don’t circulate blood to maintain circulation. You should call for help promptly, but you shouldn’t wait to start compressions to do so. In practice, perform high-quality compressions at a steady rate and depth to generate blood flow, then follow with breaths as you’re able.