What is the compression-to-ventilation ratio when the airway is not in place?

What is the compression-to-ventilation ratio when the airway is not in place?

• A. 20:2
• B. 30:2
• C. 15:2
• D. 10:1

Answer: (B)

When there is no airway device in place, the standard CPR rhythm for a single rescuer is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 ventilations. This 30:2 ratio balances two goals: generating adequate blood flow to vital organs through continuous compressions, and providing enough breaths to oxygenate the blood without interrupting circulation too long. Frequent breaths alone would cut into perfusion, while too few breaths wouldn’t maintain oxygenation. In this scenario, the pattern described—30 compressions then 2 breaths—best fits the situation of no airway in place.

When there is no airway device in place, the standard CPR rhythm for a single rescuer is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 ventilations. This 30:2 ratio balances two goals: generating adequate blood flow to vital organs through continuous compressions, and providing enough breaths to oxygenate the blood without interrupting circulation too long. Frequent breaths alone would cut into perfusion, while too few breaths wouldn’t maintain oxygenation.

In this scenario, the pattern described—30 compressions then 2 breaths—best fits the situation of no airway in place.