What should you do if you are alone and need to call for help in an emergency?

In an emergency situation involving a child or infant, the most effective approach when you're alone is to perform CPR for 1-2 minutes before calling for help. This practice stems from the understanding that high-quality CPR can significantly improve the chances of survival for the child by maintaining blood flow and oxygenation to vital organs, especially the brain and heart, during a critical moment.

When you begin CPR right away, you can provide essential life-saving measures while also being active in the process of securing further assistance. After 1-2 minutes of CPR, calling 911 ensures that emergency services can be alerted while you continue to provide care.

Waiting for someone else to arrive or delaying any emergency intervention can worsen the situation, as every moment counts. Immediately calling 911 and leaving the child unattended is also not advisable, as this would stop any lifesaving measures that are currently being provided. Performing only rescue breaths neglects the compressions crucial for maintaining circulation, which is why CPR in its entirety is critical in this situation.