Skills: 2 Person CPR

2 person CPR is usually performed with either 2 or 3 people. If 2 people perform, then one person performs the ventilations and the other person performs the chest compressions. At the end of the first cycle of 5 x 30, they swap roles.

If a third person is involved, that person is responsible to perform the head-tilt-chin lift and make sure the mask seal is tight and effective. The other two people perform as for 2 persons above.

The current guidelines recommend 30 compressions and 2 ventilations with this being repeated 5 times. Go here for information on how to perform compressions. Go here for information on how to perform ventilations.

 The Switch Over


2 person CPR is a team effort. When the 2 people switch roles, each person needs to take care to do this so that neither the quality nor the timing of compressions or ventilations suffers.

Count Out Loud: As the person performing compressions gets to about 25 they should begin to count out loud. This acts as a cue for the person performing ventilations to make sure the head is in the proper position, the seal is good and he or she is ready to give the 2 ventilations.

Switch During Compressions: A consequence of the change in roles is the person who begins with ventilations would have to give the 2 ventilations, then shift around and give the next set of compressions. This takes too long and will increase no flow time. Thus most people practice switching roles at around the 20th compression of the 5th cycle.

  1. The person performing the compressions should be counting out loud from 15 onwards
  2. The person on vents should set the BVM beside the head and get ready to take over compressions
  3. At count 20 the person doing compression says switch
  4. The second person is immediately doing compressions and continuing the count
  5. The other person has now pulled the head back, secured a good seal. On count 30 this person provides the 2 ventilations.

SmartMan On SmartMan

At the Main Menu select "CPR" then the option which you want. On SmartMan there are two different ways to PRACTICE performing CPR, by yourself or with a partner.

 
CPR 2 Person PRACTICE
Click on this button. On the next page press on the SPACE BAR. You begin the practice by performing the first compression. SmartMan will now display and record all information as you perform.

CPR 2 PERSON TEST
Click on this button. On the next page press on the SPACE BAR. You begin the practice by performing the first compression. SmartMan will now display and record all information as you perform.

SmartMan not only examines each skill, but also records the times associated with each compression and each ventilation along with the total times for each cycle as well as the total time. Timing is the most difficult aspect of perform 1 person CPR.


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