Which chest compression technique is preferred for a child >1 year when two rescuers are present?

Which chest compression technique is preferred for a child >1 year when two rescuers are present?

• A. One-handed chest compressions.
• B. Two-handed chest compressions on the lower half of the sternum.
• C. Two-finger chest compressions.
• D. Heel of one hand only.

Answer: (B)

When two rescuers are present for a child older than 1 year, the recommended approach is two-handed chest compressions on the lower half of the sternum. Using both hands on the lower sternum allows you to achieve the necessary depth—about one third of the chest (roughly 5 cm in a child)—with good chest recoil, and it distributes the effort between rescuers, helping maintain consistent depth through multiple compressions. This setup also leaves one rescuer free to ventilate or manage the airway, which is easier when the chest is stabilized by both hands. The other techniques are better suited to different situations. Two-finger compressions are the go-to method for infants, not for a child over 1 year. One-handed compressions can be used in small children when necessary, but with two rescuers, two hands provide more reliable depth and fatigue resistance. The heel of one hand is the adult-style method and is not appropriate for pediatric patients, as it risks excessive force and injury and does not optimize depth in smaller chests.

When two rescuers are present for a child older than 1 year, the recommended approach is two-handed chest compressions on the lower half of the sternum. Using both hands on the lower sternum allows you to achieve the necessary depth—about one third of the chest (roughly 5 cm in a child)—with good chest recoil, and it distributes the effort between rescuers, helping maintain consistent depth through multiple compressions. This setup also leaves one rescuer free to ventilate or manage the airway, which is easier when the chest is stabilized by both hands.

The other techniques are better suited to different situations. Two-finger compressions are the go-to method for infants, not for a child over 1 year. One-handed compressions can be used in small children when necessary, but with two rescuers, two hands provide more reliable depth and fatigue resistance. The heel of one hand is the adult-style method and is not appropriate for pediatric patients, as it risks excessive force and injury and does not optimize depth in smaller chests.