What is the correct compression depth for infant CPR?

For infant CPR (under 1 year), compress the chest to a depth of approximately 4 cm (1.5 inches), or one-third of the chest's depth. Use two fingers placed just below the nipple line. Ensure full chest recoil between compressions. This depth is shallower than for children (5 cm) and adults (5-6 cm) due to the infant's smaller size and more fragile ribs.

How do I treat a child who is having a febrile convulsion?

Febrile convulsions are seizures caused by a rapid rise in body temperature. Stay calm, time the seizure, and protect the child from injury by removing nearby objects. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. After the seizure stops (usually within 5 minutes), place them in the recovery position and cool them down by removing excess clothing. Call 999 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if it's their first seizure, or if they have difficulty breathing afterwards.

Can I use an AED on a child under 1 year old?

Yes, you can use an AED on an infant if paediatric pads or a paediatric mode are available. If not, use adult pads but place them on the chest and back (anterior-posterior position) to avoid overlap. Follow the AED voice prompts; some AEDs have a key or switch to reduce the shock energy for children. For infants, manual defibrillators are preferred but AEDs are acceptable in an emergency.

What should I do if a child is choking and becomes unconscious?

If a choking child becomes unconscious, lower them to the ground and call 999 immediately. Start CPR with chest compressions – even if you haven't given rescue breaths yet. After 30 compressions, open the airway and look for the object; if visible, remove it with a finger sweep (only if you can see it). Then give 2 rescue breaths. Continue CPR cycles (30:2) until help arrives or the child recovers.

How do I administer an adrenaline auto-injector to a child?

For a child with suspected anaphylaxis, remove the auto-injector from its case, form a fist around it, and pull off the safety cap. Place the orange tip against the outer thigh (through clothing if necessary) and push firmly until you hear a click. Hold for 3 seconds, then remove. Massage the injection site for 10 seconds. Note the time and call 999. For infants, the thigh may be smaller, but still inject into the outer thigh. A second dose can be given after 5 minutes if no improvement.

What is the recovery position for an infant?

For an infant (under 1 year) who is unconscious but breathing normally, hold them in a 'cradle' position: support the head and neck with one hand, and place the infant face down along your forearm with the head slightly tilted back to keep the airway open. Ensure the mouth and nose are clear. Monitor breathing continuously. For a child over 1 year, use the standard recovery position: roll them onto their side, tilt the head back, and adjust the top leg to stabilise them.

How to Revise CTQ Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid — Certify Training Qualifications Vocationally-Related Qualification Health & Social Care

1. Understand the role of the paediatric first aider2. Assess a range of paediatric first aid situations in order to provide emergency first aid3. Provide appropriate paediatric first aid for a range of emergency situations and casualties

Examiner Tips for CTQ Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid

In practical assessments, narrate your actions clearly to the assessor, explaining what you are checking and why, to demonstrate underlying knowledge.
Remember the chain of survival: early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, and post-resuscitation care; always state the need for an AED when available.
For scenario-based questions, systematically apply the primary survey (DRABC) even if the scenario focuses on a specific injury, showing your holistic assessment approach.
When providing first aid, always consider infection prevention: state that you would put on gloves, use barrier devices for breaths, and wash hands after care.

Common Mistakes in CTQ Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid

Failing to check for danger to self, bystanders, and the casualty before approaching, leading to potential further injury.
Performing adult CPR techniques on a child or infant, such as using two hands for chest compressions on a small child or failing to adjust compression depth.
Confusing the sequence for choking management: for infants, giving abdominal thrusts instead of chest thrusts, or forgetting to inspect the mouth after each cycle.
Moving an unconscious casualty without first checking for spinal injury, especially in trauma situations, risking permanent damage.
Applying a tourniquet as a first response for bleeding instead of direct pressure, or removing embedded objects from wounds, which can worsen bleeding.

Key Marking Points

Award credit for demonstrating a systematic primary survey (DRABC) when approaching a paediatric casualty, ensuring scene safety and calling for appropriate help.
Award credit for correctly performing infant and child CPR, including appropriate hand placement, depth, ratio, and use of rescue breaths, adjusting technique for age.
Award credit for managing an unconscious but breathing infant or child by placing them in the recovery position and monitoring vital signs continuously.

CTQ Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid

CERTIFY-TRAINING-QUALIFICATIONS

vocational

This subtopic focuses on equipping learners with the competence to deliver emergency first aid to infants and children in a range of life-threatening situations. It covers the assessment of incidents and casualties, the application of practical skills such as CPR, choking management, and control of bleeding, all while understanding the legal and professional responsibilities of a paediatric first aider. Mastery ensures prompt, safe, and effective care that reduces the risk of further harm while awaiting professional medical assistance.

Learning Outcomes

Assessment Guidance

Key Skills

Key Terms

Assessment Criteria

Assessment criteria

Delivering Emergency Paediatric First Aid

Topic Overview

The CTQ Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid is a vocationally-related qualification designed for individuals working with or caring for children, such as nursery staff, childminders, and primary school teachers. It covers essential life-saving skills for infants and children, including managing unconsciousness, choking, bleeding, and anaphylaxis. This qualification is critical because children have unique anatomical and physiological differences that require tailored first aid approaches, and it ensures compliance with Ofsted and EYFS requirements for early years settings.

This course fits into the wider Health & Social Care curriculum by equipping learners with practical emergency response skills that complement theoretical knowledge of child development and safeguarding. It emphasises the importance of rapid assessment, effective communication with emergency services, and maintaining safety for both the rescuer and the child. Mastery of these skills not only prepares students for real-world emergencies but also enhances their employability in childcare roles, where first aid certification is often mandatory.

Students will learn to recognise and respond to a range of paediatric emergencies, from minor injuries to life-threatening conditions. The qualification covers the latest Resuscitation Council UK guidelines, including the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on children. By the end of the course, learners should be able to confidently perform CPR, place a child in the recovery position, and manage common emergencies like febrile convulsions and severe allergic reactions.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→The paediatric chain of survival: early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, and post-resuscitation care – emphasising that children often suffer respiratory arrest before cardiac arrest, so prompt breathing support is vital.
→Differences between infant (under 1 year) and child (1 year to puberty) first aid: for example, using two fingers for chest compressions on infants versus one or two hands for children, and the correct head-tilt chin-lift technique for airway management.
→Recovery position modifications: for infants, hold them in a 'cradle' position with the head tilted back; for children, use the standard recovery position but ensure the airway remains open and monitor breathing continuously.
→Management of anaphylaxis: recognising signs (e.g., swelling, difficulty breathing, rash) and administering an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g., EpiPen) into the outer thigh, with doses varying for infants and children.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award credit for demonstrating a systematic primary survey (DRABC) when approaching a paediatric casualty, ensuring scene safety and calling for appropriate help.
Award credit for correctly performing infant and child CPR, including appropriate hand placement, depth, ratio, and use of rescue breaths, adjusting technique for age.
Award credit for managing an unconscious but breathing infant or child by placing them in the recovery position and monitoring vital signs continuously.
Award credit for effective management of a choking infant or child, demonstrating back blows and abdominal/chest thrusts as per age-specific protocols.
Award credit for controlling severe bleeding with direct pressure and appropriate dressing, while treating for shock and minimising infection risk.

Assessment Criteria

Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

Award credit for demonstrating a systematic primary survey (DRABC) when approaching a paediatric casualty, ensuring scene safety and calling for appropriate help.
Award credit for correctly performing infant and child CPR, including appropriate hand placement, depth, ratio, and use of rescue breaths, adjusting technique for age.
Award credit for managing an unconscious but breathing infant or child by placing them in the recovery position and monitoring vital signs continuously.
Award credit for effective management of a choking infant or child, demonstrating back blows and abdominal/chest thrusts as per age-specific protocols.
Award credit for controlling severe bleeding with direct pressure and appropriate dressing, while treating for shock and minimising infection risk.

Assessment Guidance

Guidance for achieving higher grades

💡In practical assessments, narrate your actions clearly to the assessor, explaining what you are checking and why, to demonstrate underlying knowledge.
💡Remember the chain of survival: early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, and post-resuscitation care; always state the need for an AED when available.
💡For scenario-based questions, systematically apply the primary survey (DRABC) even if the scenario focuses on a specific injury, showing your holistic assessment approach.
💡When providing first aid, always consider infection prevention: state that you would put on gloves, use barrier devices for breaths, and wash hands after care.
💡When answering questions about CPR ratios, always specify the age group: for infants and children, use a 30:2 ratio for single rescuer (same as adults), but for two rescuers, use 15:2 for children and infants. Examiners look for this precision.
💡In scenarios involving anaphylaxis, remember to mention calling 999 or 112 immediately after administering the auto-injector, and note that a second dose can be given after 5 minutes if no improvement. This shows you understand the protocol.
💡For questions on the recovery position, describe the specific steps for infants (cradle hold with head tilted) versus children (standard recovery position with airway check). Avoid generic answers – demonstrate knowledge of paediatric adaptations.

Common Mistakes

Common errors to avoid in your coursework

Failing to check for danger to self, bystanders, and the casualty before approaching, leading to potential further injury.
Performing adult CPR techniques on a child or infant, such as using two hands for chest compressions on a small child or failing to adjust compression depth.
Confusing the sequence for choking management: for infants, giving abdominal thrusts instead of chest thrusts, or forgetting to inspect the mouth after each cycle.
Moving an unconscious casualty without first checking for spinal injury, especially in trauma situations, risking permanent damage.
Applying a tourniquet as a first response for bleeding instead of direct pressure, or removing embedded objects from wounds, which can worsen bleeding.
Misconception: You should put something in a child's mouth during a seizure to prevent tongue biting. Correction: Never put anything in the mouth; instead, protect the child from injury by clearing the area and place them in the recovery position after the seizure stops.
Misconception: For a choking child, perform back blows and abdominal thrusts in the same way as for an adult. Correction: For infants, use back blows and chest thrusts (not abdominal thrusts) to avoid abdominal injury; for children over 1 year, use back blows and abdominal thrusts but with less force than for adults.
Misconception: If a child is unresponsive but breathing normally, you should start CPR immediately. Correction: If breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and monitor; only start CPR if they are not breathing or only gasping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Basic understanding of child development stages (infant, toddler, child) to appreciate anatomical differences.
•Familiarity with the principles of first aid, such as the primary survey (DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation).
•Knowledge of safeguarding procedures, as first aid often involves vulnerable children and requires reporting incidents appropriately.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

1. Understand the role of the paediatric first aider2. Assess a range of paediatric first aid situations in order to provide emergency first aid3. Provide appropriate paediatric first aid for a range of emergency situations and casualties

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CTQ Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid

Assessment criteria

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Guidance

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Key Terminology

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