Management of acute emergencies in children has a number of specific aspects, with which the first person providing medical care needs to be familiar. For example, intubation requires knowledge of the particular anatomy of infants and young children. In addition, a specific and flexible approach to such matters as oxygen requirement, blood volumes, thermoregulation and the venous system is essential. Administration of adrenaline should initially be via inhalation, since this can be done rapidly and easily. Among the causes of cardiac arrest, sudden infant death predominates in babies, while in young and pre-school children, trauma and near-drowning accidents represent the most common events requiring reanimation measures. Of decisive importance for clarifying the cause of death is an accurate documentation of the course of reanimation and the situation initially presenting to the care provider.