Where should you position your hands when performing chest compressions on an adult?

Where should you position your hands when performing chest compressions on an adult?

• A. On the left chest near the armpit.
• B. On the center of the chest (lower half of the sternum), with one hand on top of the other and elbows straight.
• C. On the back between the shoulder blades.
• D. On the right chest near the collarbone.

Answer: (D)

To deliver effective chest compressions on an adult, place your hands on the center of the chest, over the lower half of the sternum. Interlock your fingers, keep the hands stacked, and position your elbows straight with your shoulders directly above your hands. This alignment lets each compression push the sternum straight downward toward the spine, maximizing blood flow with each push. Avoid placing your hands on the left chest near the armpit, on the back between the shoulder blades, or on the right chest near the collarbone, as these locations don’t compress the heart properly and can reduce circulation or cause injury. Aim for about 2 inches (5 cm) of depth at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute, with full chest recoil between compressions.

To deliver effective chest compressions on an adult, place your hands on the center of the chest, over the lower half of the sternum. Interlock your fingers, keep the hands stacked, and position your elbows straight with your shoulders directly above your hands. This alignment lets each compression push the sternum straight downward toward the spine, maximizing blood flow with each push. Avoid placing your hands on the left chest near the armpit, on the back between the shoulder blades, or on the right chest near the collarbone, as these locations don’t compress the heart properly and can reduce circulation or cause injury. Aim for about 2 inches (5 cm) of depth at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute, with full chest recoil between compressions.