You should stop CPR when the person shows signs of life (breathing normally, moving, responding), professional medical help arrives and takes over, an AED is used and gives instructions, the scene becomes unsafe, or you are too exhausted to continue effectively and no one can take over. CPR is physically demanding, so switching with another rescuer every two minutes to maintain quality compressions is ideal, and always prioritize your own safety.
5 Reasons to Stop CPR
Duration of CPR
The rescuer should continue cardiopulmonary resuscitation until any of the following conditions have been met: the person responds or begins breathing normally. it is impossible to continue (e.g. exhaustion)
Only stop CPR if: The casualty shows signs of life, e.g. moving, moaning, coughing or opening the eyes AND starts to breathe normally. Someone more qualified arrives and takes over. You are exhausted and cannot carry on.
Permanent brain damage or death can occur in as little as 4 minutes if a person's blood flow stops. Therefore, you must continue CPR until the person's heartbeat and breathing return, or trained medical help arrives.
The 3 R's in CPR stand for Recognize, Respond, and Resuscitate. These three steps are crucial in saving a life during a cardiac emergency. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, every second counts, and understanding these three essential steps ensures that bystanders can take quick and effective action.
Improper chest compressions (too slow, too fast, or not deep enough) can do more harm than good. People make this mistake mainly because of fear of hurting the victim's lungs or crushing their ribs.
Do you give CPR if there is a pulse but no breathing? Yes, Perform CPR: If a person is not breathing but has a detectable pulse, CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) should be initiated immediately.
Myth: Once I start CPR, I can't stop. Fact: People who are not health care providers can stop CPR when they are too tired to continue, when someone takes over for them, when professional help takes over or the when the scene becomes to dangerous to continue.
A strong inverse relationship between patient age and survival was observed (p = 0.05), with no patients over 90 years surviving. Additionally, poorer health status, as indicated by lower American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, was associated with shorter resuscitation times (p < 0.001).
In general, CPR should be continued as long as a shockable rhythm or other reversible cause for cardiac arrest persists.
The current Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines for CPR is 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths.
The "4-hour rule" in emergency departments (EDs) is a performance target, particularly in places like Australia (called NEAT/WEAT) and the UK, aiming for most patients to be admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours to improve efficiency, reduce overcrowding, and decrease mortality, though its success is debated, with benefits in flow but also potential negative impacts like increased ICU bed block and staff burnout.
When performing CPR, look out for clear signs of life. If the person starts showing any kind of consciousness, including breathing, moving their body, opening their eyes, or making sounds and talking, it's time to stop the chest compressions.
Time and Survival:
20-Minute Rule: After at least 20 minutes of CPR without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or a viable cardiac rhythm, it's generally appropriate to consider stopping. Asystole: If the initial rhythm is asystole (flatline) and persists for 20 minutes, survival chances are minimal.
If CPR has been ongoing for over 20 minutes with no return of pulse, no breathing, and no AED (Automated External Defibrillator) shock advised, it may be appropriate to stop. This decision is often guided by advanced providers or according to established protocols.
According to expert CPR best practice recommendations, you should stop CPR only when one of the following occurs:
Studies have found that in addition to being less complicated, CPR without rescue breaths may even be more effective than CPR with mouth-to-mouth because continuous chest compressions alone have been shown to sustain blood circulation more effectively for people in cardiac arrest.
When someone dies, their heart stops and they stop breathing. Within a few minutes, their brain stops functioning and their skin starts to cool. At this point, they have died.
Recommended Procedure: “For these reasons, we believe it is appropriate to recommend the following: in case of vomiting, turn the victim onto their side, perform a finger sweep if needed, return the victim to their back, and restart CPR with chest compressions, beginning a new cycle regardless of the number of ...
CPR alone cannot restart a heart once it has stopped completely, however performing this action on a patient experiencing heart problems can help to maintain regular heart rhythms until the emergency services arrive at the scene and save a life.
5 Serious Emergencies When CPR Is Needed
What is the golden rule of CPR? The golden rule of CPR is to act fast. Call 999, start chest compressions in the centre of the chest, and keep going steadily until help arrives or a defibrillator is ready to use.
What Not to Do During CPR: Avoid Common Mistakes and Stay Safe
Give two breaths after every 30 chest compressions. If two people are doing CPR, give 1 to 2 breaths after every 15 chest compressions. Continue CPR until you see signs of life or until medical help arrives.