What is the standard compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR?

What is the standard compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR?

• A. 30:2
• B. 15:2
• C. 20:2
• D. 25:2

Answer: (A)

In adult CPR, the ratio of chest compressions to ventilations shows how often you switch from pushing on the chest to giving breaths. For a single rescuer, the standard sequence is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths, repeated until help arrives or the person improves. This balance maximizes blood flow to the heart and brain while still providing some oxygen to the lungs. Keeping chest compressions frequent and interruptions short is key, because longer pauses for breaths reduce coronary and cerebral perfusion. If two rescuers are present, the pattern changes to 15 compressions followed by 2 breaths, to share the workload and maintain perfusion with quicker ventilation. Ratios like 20:2 or 25:2 aren’t standard because they would disrupt the optimal balance between compressions and breaths. With an advanced airway, compressions can be continuous and ventilations occur every 6 seconds instead of a fixed ratio.

In adult CPR, the ratio of chest compressions to ventilations shows how often you switch from pushing on the chest to giving breaths. For a single rescuer, the standard sequence is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths, repeated until help arrives or the person improves. This balance maximizes blood flow to the heart and brain while still providing some oxygen to the lungs. Keeping chest compressions frequent and interruptions short is key, because longer pauses for breaths reduce coronary and cerebral perfusion.

If two rescuers are present, the pattern changes to 15 compressions followed by 2 breaths, to share the workload and maintain perfusion with quicker ventilation. Ratios like 20:2 or 25:2 aren’t standard because they would disrupt the optimal balance between compressions and breaths. With an advanced airway, compressions can be continuous and ventilations occur every 6 seconds instead of a fixed ratio.