How deep should chest compressions be for adults in CPR?

How deep should chest compressions be for adults in CPR?

• A. About 2 inches (5 cm).
• B. About 1 inch (2.5 cm).
• C. About 4 inches (10 cm).
• D. Depth is not important.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that enough chest compression depth is needed to create enough forward blood flow during CPR. For adults, about 2 inches (5 cm) is the recommended depth. This depth reliably compresses the heart to push blood out to the body while allowing full chest recoil between compressions. If you compress only about 1 inch, you don’t generate enough pressure to circulate blood effectively. Pushing around 4 inches goes beyond what’s recommended and increases the risk of injury without providing extra benefit. So depth matters because it directly controls how much blood is moved with each squeeze, making about 2 inches (5 cm) the best choice.

The key idea is that enough chest compression depth is needed to create enough forward blood flow during CPR. For adults, about 2 inches (5 cm) is the recommended depth. This depth reliably compresses the heart to push blood out to the body while allowing full chest recoil between compressions. If you compress only about 1 inch, you don’t generate enough pressure to circulate blood effectively. Pushing around 4 inches goes beyond what’s recommended and increases the risk of injury without providing extra benefit. So depth matters because it directly controls how much blood is moved with each squeeze, making about 2 inches (5 cm) the best choice.