Mum calls for infant CPR advice to be included in red books after saving her baby’s life

A life-changing moment

Hayley’s son Brodie was born premature, spending six weeks in neonatal intensive care before coming home. At just eight weeks old, he suffered a terrifying medical emergency while in the car with his mum.

“I tried to settle him when he started crying forcefully, but he just got worse,” she explained. “I moved him into the shade, and he suddenly went limp and stopped crying.”

Hayley, who had previously taken a paediatric first aid course, sprang into action. Running to a nearby vet’s office, she began performing CPR with the help of the vet, eventually reviving Brodie before paramedics arrived.

Medics later discovered Brodie had suffered a collapsed lung caused by a viral infection. Reflecting on the ordeal, Hayley said, “His life flashed before me, and I thought of how my other children would cope if I lost him.”

Campaigning for change

The harrowing experience led Hayley to research what information was available for parents about CPR. She was shocked to find that the red book—a personal child health record issued to all new parents in the UK—contained no advice about performing CPR on babies.

“You have this book that parents rely on for key health information,” Hayley said. “Why not include something so vital that could save a child’s life?”

Her campaign calls for QR codes to be printed in red books, linking parents to infant CPR videos. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which oversees the content of red books, has acknowledged the proposal and referred it to its committee for consideration.

How to perform baby CPR

Hayley’s advocacy highlights an alarming statistic: only one in four parents feel confident they would know what to do if their baby stopped breathing.

Initiatives like those by St John Ambulance aim to bridge this knowledge gap with clear and accessible guidance.

Here are the key steps every parent should know:

1. Call 999 or 112: If you’re alone, perform one minute of CPR before calling for help. Always take your baby with you when making the call.
2. Give five rescue breaths: Seal your lips around your baby’s mouth and nose, then blow steadily for up to one second. Repeat five times.
3. Perform 30 chest compressions: Using two fingers placed in the centre of your baby’s chest, press down at a rate of 100–120 pumps per minute.
4. Repeat with two breaths and 30 pumps: Continue the cycle of two rescue breaths followed by 30 chest compressions until emergency services arrive or your baby starts breathing.

Making CPR training accessible

Hayley's ultimate goal is to make basic CPR training a legal requirement for all new parents. “It’s such a scary thing to do,” she said, “but knowing how to respond can save your child’s life.”

Emergencies like Brodie’s are rare but can happen to any family. Whether it’s due to a viral infection, choking, or another medical issue, knowing how to perform CPR can make all the difference.

For parents who haven’t had formal training, resources like the St John Ambulance’s nursery rhyme-themed CPR video provide a straightforward and memorable way to learn.

As Hayley puts it: “I won’t stop until every parent knows what to do, because it’s a matter of life or death.”

For more guidance, visit St John Ambulance’s baby CPR guide.

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