You notice the chest compression rate is slowing during CPR. What should you say to offer constructive feedback?

You notice the chest compression rate is slowing during CPR. What should you say to offer constructive feedback?

• A. You need to compress at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute
• B. Take longer pauses between compressions
• C. Increase depth to 3 inches
• D. Reduce the rate to 60 per minute

Answer: (A)

Maintaining an effective CPR rhythm is essential because blood flow depends on a steady, fast tempo. Current guidelines call for about 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute. When the rate slows, you’re delivering fewer compressions each minute, which reduces overall perfusion to the heart and brain and can worsen outcomes. So, the constructive feedback should focus on restoring that tempo to the guideline range, for example by saying we need to compress at 100 to 120 per minute and using a metronome or a rhythmic cue to keep pace. The other options don't address the rate effectively: taking longer pauses between compressions stops the flow and lowers perfusion; increasing depth addresses depth, not rate (and 3 inches isn’t the point of the feedback about rate); reducing the rate to 60 per minute is too slow and also decreases blood flow.

Maintaining an effective CPR rhythm is essential because blood flow depends on a steady, fast tempo. Current guidelines call for about 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute. When the rate slows, you’re delivering fewer compressions each minute, which reduces overall perfusion to the heart and brain and can worsen outcomes. So, the constructive feedback should focus on restoring that tempo to the guideline range, for example by saying we need to compress at 100 to 120 per minute and using a metronome or a rhythmic cue to keep pace.

The other options don't address the rate effectively: taking longer pauses between compressions stops the flow and lowers perfusion; increasing depth addresses depth, not rate (and 3 inches isn’t the point of the feedback about rate); reducing the rate to 60 per minute is too slow and also decreases blood flow.