You and your partner have responded to a call for a 57 year old patient in cardiac arrest. You have used the AED to deliver a shock to the patient. The patient remains in cardiac arrest. You and your partner begin giving ventilations using a resuscitation mask, along with chest compressions. You should compress the patient's chest 30 times for every 2 breaths your partner gives.

• A. 15, 1
• B. 30, 2
• C. 40, 2
• D. 20, 2

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is the proper compression-to-ventilation ratio during adult CPR when two rescuers are present and using a bag-valve mask. The recommended cycle is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. This 30:2 ratio helps maximize perfusion to the heart and brain while still providing adequate oxygenation. Keep the chest compression rate around 100–120 per minute, and ensure the ventilations are delivered with chest rise. If an advanced airway were in place, the pattern would change to continuous compressions with one breath every 6 seconds, but in this scenario with a resuscitation mask, 30 compressions for every 2 breaths is the correct approach.