High-quality CPR is vital for patients of any age and includes:

1. A compression rate of 100–120 per minute.
2. Compression depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm) and not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) for adults and one-third of the anterior-posterior chest diameter for children and infants.
3. Allowing for full chest recoil after each compression, so the chambers of the heart can fill.
4. Minimizing interruptions in chest compressions.

The hands are positioned with one on top of the other, applying pressure on the center of the sternum, the solid elongated bone at the center of the chest. The rescuer uses their body weight to compress the chest. While performing chest compressions, the rescuer must always reassess and make the necessary corrections and adjustments as needed.

Compression Technique

The rescuer should understand the essential things to do and not do when performing high-quality CPR on an adult patient:

Compression Criteria