How can rescuers determine if their compressions are effective?

Determining the effectiveness of chest compressions is essential in CPR, and observing chest rise and fall is a clear indicator of proper ventilation and circulation during the resuscitation process. When effective compressions are being performed, they generate blood flow, which can facilitate oxygen delivery to the heart and brain. As a result, the chest should visibly rise and fall with each cycle of compressions and breaths. This visual cue not only aids in confirming that the compressions are being done correctly but also indicates that air is reaching the lungs, which is crucial for the victim’s chances of survival.

Other methods, while useful in their own right, do not provide the immediate feedback that observing the chest rise does. Listening for breathing sounds, feeling for a pulse, and counting compressions visually may not be as reliable in assessing the current effectiveness of compressions during the high-stress environment of CPR. Thus, focusing on chest rise is the most effective way to confirm that the compressions are being delivered properly.