Our Key Numbers for CPR is a compilation of all of the important numbers (CPR ratios, CPR compression rates, etc) we teach in our CPR courses. You can use this list as a study tool or as a quick reference guide.
Our Key Numbers For CPR Chart
Here are the latest Key Numbers for CPR. You can also download a printable copy by clicking here. It includes the latest American Heart Association guidelines for CPR compression ratios (compressions to ventilations), depth of compressions, CPR chest compression rate for adults and children, rate of rescue breathing for adults, the number of rescue breaths for a child, the infant CPR ratio, and more.
CPR Ratio: Compression / Ventilation (without advanced airway)
2 or more rescuers – 15:2
CPR Ratio: Compression / Ventilation Ratio (with advanced airway)
Give 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min)
CPR Compression Rate
CPR Compression Depth
About 2 inches (5 cm)
About 1½ inches (4 cm)
CPR Hand Placement
2 fingers in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line
2 or more rescuers
2 thumbs – encircling hands in the center of the chest just below the nipple
Rescue Breathing Rate
Activation of EMS
If you are alone with no mobile phone, leave the victim to activate the emergency response system and get the AED before beginning CPR
Unwitnessed collapse:
Give 2 minutes of CPR. Leave the victim to activate the emergency response system and get the AED Return to the child or infant and resume CPR, use the AED as soon as it is available.
Recognition of Cardiac Arrest
Minimizing Interruptions
CPR Ratio: Compression / Ventilation
(without advanced airway)
2 or more rescuers – 15:2
CPR Ratio: Compression / Ventilation Ratio (with advanced airway)
Give 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min)
CPR Compression Rate
CPR Compression Depth
About 2 inches (5 cm)
About 1½ inches (4 cm)
CPR Hand Placement
2 fingers in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line
2 or more rescuers
2 thumbs – encircling hands in the center of the chest just below the nipple
Rescue Breathing Rate
Activation of EMS
If you are alone with no mobile phone, leave the victim to activate the emergency response system and get the AED before beginning CPR
Unwitnessed collapse:
Give 2 minutes of CPR. Leave the victim to activate the emergency response system and get the AED Return to the child or infant and resume CPR, use the AED as soon as it is available.
Recognition of Cardiac Arrest
Minimizing Interruptions
American Heart Association Guidelines
The American Heart Association issues guidelines for Emergency Cardiovascular Care, also known as ECC. This chart includes the latest American Heart Association guidelines. All updates are included in all of our classes. Subscribe to our blog to receive all future American Heart Association updates to ECC guidelines. You can use our Key Numbers for CPR chart for any CPR class that follows American Heart Association guidelines.
Key Terms
CPR Compression to Ventilation Ratio
The Compression to Ventilation CPR Ratio is the number of chest compressions given followed by the number of ventilation breaths given while performing CPR. A compression-to-ventilation CPR ratio of 30:2 means you should give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 ventilation breaths.
Rate of CPR Compressions
This is the rate or speed of CPR compressions per minute. A rate of 100/minute means the speed at which you are giving chest compressions would allow you to give 100 compressions in a minute if you did not need to stop to provide ventilations. The only time you would do chest compressions without stopping is if the victim were intubated. Typically, a single rescuer performing CPR chest compressions at a rate of 100/minute will actually perform about 75 compressions due to the need to stop and give ventilations.
Depth of Compressions
This is simply how far down the victim’s chest is compressed with each chest compression.
Rescue Breathing
This is the number of ventilation breaths that are actually given each minute. This applies to victims who have a pulse but are not breathing.
Learn CPR and Save a Life Today
Our goal is to help save lives by teaching people life-saving CPR skills. If everyone learned how to perform CPR and use an AED, we could decrease the number of deaths from sudden cardiac arrest. You can learn CPR quickly and easily through one of our online classes. You can take the CPR class for free, there is no obligation.