CPR Compression Relay to the Beat
In groups of five, students practice chest compressions on a manikin to songs at 100 to 120 beats per minute and switch every two minutes, just like in a real resuscitation. Students learn hands-only CPR technique, why you should never stop and how to work as a team.
How to play
- Spend 4 minutes demonstrating the sequence: check for response and breathing, call 911, interlock hands in the center of the chest, keep arms straight and push about 2 inches deep, letting the chest rise fully.
- Make 5 groups of 5, each with a manikin on a mat, kneeling beside it.
- Play a song at about 110 beats per minute. The first student compresses to the beat for 2 minutes while another counts out loud from 1 to 30.
- On the whistle, the next student takes over with no more than a 5-second pause: they say "Switch" and place their hands just as the previous student lifts theirs.
- The other three observe with a checklist: hand position, straight arms, depth and rate. They give one tip after each turn.
- Run 2 full rounds (about 18 minutes). In the second round, add 2 simulated rescue breaths every 30 compressions if the manikin allows it.
Rules
- Never do compressions on a classmate, only on the manikin.
- Switch without stopping compressions for more than 5 seconds.
- Wipe the manikin's face between users if practicing rescue breaths.
- If you get tired before 2 minutes, call for a switch; do not strain your back.
Variations
Easier
Use 1-minute turns and compressions only, with no breaths.
Standard
Use 2-minute turns of compressions to the music with quick switches.
Harder
Start with a full scenario (finding the victim, calling 911) and keep CPR going for 6 minutes straight as a group.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: place the manikin on a table at the right height, or have the student lead the 911 call and the counting.
- Hearing impairment: replace the music with a visual metronome on a tablet or a partner who beats the rhythm with a hand.
- Low arm strength: use 1-minute turns and stress using body weight, not just the arms.
Learning goals
- Perform chest compressions with correct technique, depth and rate.
- Coordinate switches without interrupting CPR.
- Know the steps to take when someone has a cardiac arrest.
Equipment for a class of 25
- CPR manikins: 5
- music: 1
- mats: 5
Teacher tip
Pick popular songs at 100 to 120 beats per minute so students internalize the rhythm. Without manikins, a firm foam ball secured on a mat works.
PatioLab has "CPR Compression Relay to the Beat" and 1299 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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