CPR Depth of Compressions

[ruthandsam]

Can anyone tell me what the depth of compressions is in centimetres for performing cpr on adults. I've been told that it has changed very recently? Many thanks

[Clanad]

Couple of things have changed with the procedures... at least here in the U.S.
First,the saving breaths have become entirely secondary as far as importance. They believe, (at least at my last refresher class) that the pumping heart and inflating lungs are more important than the breaths. Standard now is, after clearing airway, blow into mouth (holding nose of course) to see if chest rises, then 30 compressions at rate of 100 per minute and then 2 breaths, etc., etc.

Secondly, depth of compression is 1.5 to 2 inches...

[237SJ]

They used to say 1 1/2 to 2" but now they say press down a third of the depth of the chest.

[Buenchico]

From the doctor who assessed me for a refresher (advanced) first aid certificate:
"You're not going to have a tape measure. Just press down as far as you can go. It's not uncommon for ambulance crews to break a few ribs when they perform CPR and the risk of doing so shouldn't inhibit your actions".

Chris

[welshlibranr]

good answer there from Clanad, but can be hard to judge the depth of compressions in the heat of the moment, I think that carrying out CPR, even if the cpmpression are deeper, and may crack/break ribs, is still the best practice, at least the patient has a chance of survival!.....if we become too worried about the depth of compressions, we way hesitate to start CPR resulting in the loss of that patients life!.....personally, I would prefer to have the discomfort of broken ribs, but still survive!..............

[welshlibranr]

Totally agree with Chris, as I said, better to survive with few broken ribs, than not to survive at all!........

[Buenchico]

CPR is probably the only bit of first aid that I've not actually done. (I've had to deal with arterial bleeding, severed fingers, head injuries, burns and fractures to a vast range of bones but I've avoided CPR so far).

However, if anyone here ever gets to see the Department of Health training video about the use of AEDs (defibrillators) they'll see me 'starring' in it. As part of the video shows how to perform CPR (on a dummy, of course) until someone has grabbed the defibrillator, I assume that I must have been doing it properly ;-)