CPR question

I believe you only continue ventilations during compressions if the patient is intubated. But my BLS is due to be renewed soon so it may have changed...

Only if intubated

Per AHA BLS, we teach to give 30 compressions and then 2 breaths until a patient is intubated...then compress at a rate of 100-120 compressions/minute independent of breaths.

With that being said, I get asked this question every few months during classes that I teach for my employer. People will say that they were in a code recently where breaths were given during compressions. I reinforce BLS, but advise them to also listen to the MD lead for the code.

Per AHA BLS, we teach to give 30 compressions and then 2 breaths until a patient is intubated...then compress at a rate of 100-120 compressions/minute independent of breaths.

With that being said, I get asked this question every few months during classes that I teach for my employer. People will say that they were in a code recently where breaths were given during compressions. I reinforce BLS, but advise them to also listen to the MD lead for the code.

^Good answer^

If you're in the hospital and have the luxury of having additional personnel and an ambu bag...and the person bagging is not in the way...then yes, more than 2 breaths are happening. In the non-hospital world, do as you were taught in training (30:2).