CPR
Authority: AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC
American Heart Association (AHA) CPR standards mandate a chest compression rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute, at a depth of 2.0 to 2.4 inches (5–6 cm) for adults, using a 30:2 compression-to-breath ratio.
| Parameter / Specification | Standard Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Chest Compression Rate | 100 - 120 | beats per minute (bpm) |
| Adult Compression Depth | 2.0 - 2.4 | in (5.0 - 6.0 cm) |
| Single-Rescuer Ratio (Adult/Child) | 30 : 2 | compressions to breaths |
| Child Compression Depth | 2.0 | in (5 cm / 1/3 chest depth) |
History & Origin
Modern CPR emerged from research at Johns Hopkins University, where engineer William Kouwenhoven, along with colleagues Guy Knickerbocker and James Jude, found that rhythmic external chest compressions alone could maintain circulation in a stopped heart -- discovered in the course of separate research into defibrillation. Combined with mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing techniques developed around the same period by researchers including Peter Safar, this work was published in 1960 and directly led the American Heart Association to issue its first CPR guidelines that same year, with a fuller set of formal guidelines following in 1966.
CPR guidance is not static; the American Heart Association reviews and updates it on a regular cycle as resuscitation science develops. One of the most significant changes came in 2005, when the recommended compression-to-breath ratio for adults changed from 15:2 to the current 30:2, reflecting evidence that longer, less-interrupted runs of chest compressions improve outcomes.