Two-Rescuer BLS
In healthcare, you are rarely alone at an arrest for long. Two-rescuer CPR is the standard a clinical team works to, and it is tested on every AHA BLS course.
In short
One rescuer compresses, the other ventilates with a bag-mask and handles the AED. Ratio 30:2 for adults, 15:2 for children and infants. Swap roles about every 2 minutes, in under 5 seconds.
30:2 for adults. For children and infants with two rescuers, 15:2 — see infant and child BLS. Once an advanced airway is in place, compressions become continuous with a breath every 6 seconds for adults.
Compression quality falls within a couple of minutes, often before the compressor notices. Swap about every 2 minutes, ideally when the AED is analysing, and make the switch fast.
Keep compressing while the second rescuer places the pads. Pause only for analysis and the shock, then resume immediately. See using an AED in BLS.
With more rescuers, roles expand to a full team with a leader — see high-performance team dynamics. The skills themselves are in bag-mask ventilation and compression rate and depth.
Counting compressions out loud lets the ventilating rescuer time the breaths and prepare for the swap. A simple call — “switching after this cycle” — keeps the change under five seconds. These habits are practised in pairs throughout the course.
This guide summarises what is taught on the course. The American Heart Association CPR and ECC Guidelines, linked below, are the authoritative source.
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30:2.
15:2.
About every 2 minutes, taking less than 5 seconds.
Usually the ventilating rescuer, while the other keeps compressing.
Yes, two-rescuer skills are practised and assessed.
Reading is not the same as doing. Safety First Medical Services is an American Heart Association training centre on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, with classroom, HeartCode and on-site BLS training and a two-year AHA BLS Provider eCard.
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Last reviewed by the training team at Safety First Medical Services, an American Heart Association training centre at Addax Office Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Call +971 55 761 9841 or email training@safetyfirstmed.ae.