DALLAS — The American Heart Association's new guidelines for cardio pulmonary resuscitation now instructs individuals to administer 30 chest compressions for every two rescue breaths. Previously, the group had recommended 15 compressions for every two breaths.
The change resulted from studies showing that blood circulation increases with each chest compression in a series and must be built back up after interruptions. Effective chest compressions create more blood flow through the heart to the rest of the body, buying a few minutes until defibrillation can be attempted or the heart can pump blood on its own. The guidelines suggest that rescuers “push hard and push fast” when giving chest compressions. The increased number holds true for children , infants (excluding newborns) and adults.