CPR Skill Guide
Posted on: November 24, 2024, by : Haroon Shaukat MD
✅ When to Start CPR
- Unresponsive
- No breathing or only gasping
- No pulse or pulse <60 bpm with poor perfusion (infants/children)
Compression to Ventilation Ratios
| Rescuer(s) | Compression: Ventilation Ratio |
| Single rescuer | 30:2 |
| Two or more rescuers | 15:2 |
*If advanced airway placed: Continuous compressions (100–120/min) + 1 breath every 2–3 sec (20–30/min)
Compression Depth & Technique
| Age | Depth | Hand Placement |
| Infant (<1 yr) | 1.5 inches (4 cm) or 1/3 chest depth | Two thumbs encircling chest (2-rescuer) or 2 fingers (single rescuer) |
| Child (1 yr to puberty) | 2 inches (5 cm) or 1/3 chest depth | Heel of one or two hands on lower half of sternum |
| Adolescent (puberty+) | Adult CPR | Two hands on chest |
Compression Rate
✅ 100–120 compressions per minute
✅ Allow full chest recoil
✅ Minimize interruptions (<10 seconds)
* To help you feel what 100 beats per minute is, you can use the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” or “Another One Bites the Dust” (though the latter is probably less appropriate).
Ventilation
- Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM): If no advanced airway, give 2 breaths after compressions
- Breaths delivered over 1 second with visible chest rise
- Avoid hyperventilation
✅ CPR Quality Checkpoints
- Effective compressions with adequate depth
- Recoil fully after each compression
- Minimize pauses
- Avoid excessive ventilation
- Monitor for change in rhythm and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
- Check pulses continuously to ensure adequacy of CPR.
- Minimize interruptions:
Pulse check at most every 2 mins
Change provider every 2 mins to minimize fatigue
Compressions immediately after shocks, meds (it won’t work until the heart gets pumped some)
- Push hard, push fast.
- Ensure proper positioning with force coming with locked elbows directly above patient.
- Use stool if needed.
- Effective compressions should show as beats on the cardiac monitor.
Quick Reference – CPR Acronym “C-A-B”
C – Compressions first
A – Airway
B – Breathing
🔗 Helpful Video Resources
Very helpful!
Great job
Thanks for the refresher