Using the 30 : 2 compression–ventilation ratio: five cycles is easier to follow than 2 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

This study assessed the time it takes for newly trained basic life-support/automated external defibrillator (BLS/AED) providers to complete five cycles of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and whether it is easier to follow a 2-min time frame or to count five cycles of CPR. Then, it assesses how many chest compressions are delivered with each of the two methods and the time needed to deliver the first two rescue breaths. Eighty BLS/AED providers were asked to provide 2 min of CPR with a compression-ventilation ratio of 30:2 and at a compression rate of 100/min without looking at any timing device and then to provide five cycles of CPR with the same compression-ventilation ratio. The number of chest compressions delivered, the time needed to complete five cycles of CPR, and the time needed to perform the first two rescue breaths were recorded. Finally, a scripted set of questions was asked to each participant. The time required to perform five cycles of CPR was 115+/-5 s and to perform the 2 min of CPR was 102+/-19 s (P = NS). Chest compressions delivered in the presumed 2-min CPR were 123+/-12 and 149+/-2 in the five cycles CPR (P<0.05). Sixty-two participants (77.5%) found it easier to count five cycles of CPR. The time needed to deliver the first two rescue breaths was between 12 and 15 s. The average time to complete five cycles of CPR is approximately 2 min for newly trained BLS/AED providers and the majority of the participants found it easier to perform five cycles.