Follow these guidelines when performing Basic Life Support Skills:
PUSH HARD: Compress the chest of an adult 1 ½- 2 inches, allowing for complete recoil chest between compressions
PUSH FAST: Compress the chest at a rate of 100 compressions/ minute
USE CORRECT RATIOS: Deliver 30 compressions and 2 ventilations, in 2 minute blocks. Change compressors every two minutes, during pauses in compressions. At that time, also check rhythm and pulses.
MINIMIZE INTERRUPTIONS IN COMPRESSIONS:Stop CPR only for essential procedures, such as rotating compressors, pulse checks and rhythm checks, no more frequently than every 2 minutes. Make the pause in compressions as brief as possible
VENTILATE CAUTIOUSLY: Deliver breaths over 1 second, using just enough volume to produce visible chest rise. With an advanced airway in place, ventilate at a rate of 8-10 breaths per minute. For rescue breathing in a perfusing patient, deliver 10-12 breaths per minute.
DEFIBRILATE APPROPRIATELY: Deliver one shock and then immediately resume chest compressions. Check the rhythm and pulse after 2 minutes of CPR.
