What is the recommended hand placement technique for adult CPR?

What is the recommended hand placement technique for adult CPR?

• A. Heel of one hand on center of chest, other hand on top, interlock fingers; arms straight
• B. Both hands on upper chest
• C. One hand on chest, one on abdomen
• D. Fist only on sternum with arms bent

Answer: (A)

In adult CPR, the goal is to deliver compressions with enough depth and at the right location by using your body weight. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (the lower half of the sternum). Put the other hand on top and interlock the fingers, keeping the fingers off the chest. Keep the arms straight with your shoulders directly over your hands so you can press straight down using your body weight. This position focuses the force on the sternum to achieve effective chest compression and allows full chest recoil between compressions. Pressing on the upper chest, the abdomen, or using only a bent-arm fist would not provide the proper depth or leverage for effective adult compressions.

In adult CPR, the goal is to deliver compressions with enough depth and at the right location by using your body weight. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (the lower half of the sternum). Put the other hand on top and interlock the fingers, keeping the fingers off the chest. Keep the arms straight with your shoulders directly over your hands so you can press straight down using your body weight.

This position focuses the force on the sternum to achieve effective chest compression and allows full chest recoil between compressions. Pressing on the upper chest, the abdomen, or using only a bent-arm fist would not provide the proper depth or leverage for effective adult compressions.