Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Practice Exam 2025 – Your Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The correct chest compression to ventilation ratio for adult CPR is 30:2. This means that for every 30 chest compressions administered, there should be 2 rescue breaths provided. This ratio is based on the guidelines established by the American Heart Association (AHA) in adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and reflects an emphasis on high-quality chest compressions as the primary focus in managing a cardiac arrest situation.

During CPR, adequate compressions are crucial because they help maintain blood flow to vital organs. The ratio of 30:2 is designed to provide an optimal balance between compressions, which are continuous and help maintain circulation, and ventilations, which are necessary to ensure oxygen delivery to the lungs. This ratio emphasizes the importance of compressions while ensuring that the patient receives sufficient breaths to maintain oxygenation.

In adult CPR, it is vital to perform compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute, and the compressions should be deep enough (about 2 inches) and allow full recoil after each compression. This ratio and the proper technique aim to maximize survival chances for adults experiencing cardiac arrest.