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Practice › Lifesaving CPR

Lifesaving CPR

Do the basics exceptionally well. Six aims, team positions and the drills you’ll practise at your SMC.

Test yourself

QUIZ · 5 QUESTIONSLifesaving CPR quizNot tried yet · 2 minutesStart quiz GAME · 1 MINUTETeam positionsPlace the whole team around the patientPlay
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The 6 aims

1Reduce time to CPR
  • Complete with a sense of urgency.
  • Primary assessment can be done in under 15 seconds for non-complex patients.
  • Danger and Response can be assessed at the same time.
  • If normal breathing isn’t detected within a few seconds, start CPR. Don’t delay.
2Improve quality of compressions
  • Exact hand and finger position doesn’t matter, as long as compressions are directly over the lower half of the sternum.
  • A hands-off technique ensures complete chest recoil.
  • Rate 100–120 per minute. Set a metronome to 110 if you have one.
  • 2 breaths, 1 breath per second. If they aren’t delivered in time, don’t re-attempt: restart compressions.
3Target a chest compression fraction of 80%
  • Compression fraction is the share of time spent doing compressions.
  • Aim for 80%, leaving 20% for breaths and AED analysis or shocks.
  • For every 10% increase (up to 80%), survival increases by over 10%.
4A coordinated approach to CPR
  • Use standard operator positions.
  • Swap roles at least every 2 minutes, or during AED analysis.
  • Work around the compression operator to apply AED pads during CPR.
5Efficient and effective AED use
  • Place the AED at the 2 o’clock position.
  • Hover hands over the chest during analysis, ready to restart, without touching the patient.
  • Don’t wait for the AED to tell you to restart CPR; it’s safe to restart immediately.
  • After “Shock” or “No shock”, use a hand tap and the cue “CPR-Go”.
6Better integration of the ART operator
  • Place oxygen at the 10 o’clock position.
  • The ART operator becomes team leader after OP insertion and two effective breaths via BVM.
  • Any trained CPR operator can then run the BVM under the ART operator’s direct supervision, using the Rule of 3s: 1 hand (3 fingers and thumb), squeezing at most 1/3 of the bag.
  • As team leader, the ART operator coaches the team, manages radio with SurfCom, and collects and documents information.

Team positions, step by step

OP1OP2AEDOP3OxygenART

Feel the rhythm

Compress at 100–120 per minute. Tap along with 110.

110bpm

Plays a click on this device. Turn your sound on.

Practice drills (with your trainer)

  1. DRSAB in under 15 secondsIn pairs: one patient, one rescuer. Time stops when you’re ready to start CPR.
  2. 1-person CPR, 2 minutesAdult CPR on a manikin, with a metronome.
  3. 2-person DRSABCOP1: D, R, S, A, B then compressions at 30:2. OP2: send for help, then take the airway and jaw thrust. Swap after 2 minutes.
  4. 3-person CPR with AEDOP3 brings the AED to 2 o’clock, preps the chest, turns it on and applies pads, then gets ready to take compressions. OP2 runs the AED.
  5. 4-person CPR with BVM and AEDAfter 1 minute of 2-person CPR, OP3 brings the AED and OP4 the BVM at the same time. Practise 2-person BVM: one jaw thrust, one breaths.

From Lifesaving CPR (L CPR) v1.0, July 2025, based on High Performance CPR and ANZCOR guidelines. Self-check only; your trainer assesses you in person. Quiz me