CPR Pulse: Warm Up at 110 Beats per Minute

A warm-up set to a metronome at 110 beats per minute, inside the 100–120 compressions per minute range in current CPR guidelines. Students feel the rhythm with their feet before taking it to their hands on a cushion.

How to play

1. Step in place to the metronome, light at first and then more powerful (2 min).
2. Travel to the beat: high knees, butt kicks and side steps, one foot strike per beat (2 min).
3. Count out loud from 1 to 30 to the beat while jogging, then start over (2 min).
4. In pairs, kneeling in front of a cushion: straight arms, hands interlocked, push the air to the beat without touching anything (1 min).
5. One partner does 30 compressions on the cushion counting out loud while the other checks the rhythm; switch roles (3 min).

Rules

• Compressions go only on the cushion, never on a classmate.
• Straight arms, shoulders over your hands.
• Let the cushion come all the way back up between compressions.
• Each pair stays in its own space.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the partner taps the beat lightly on their shoulder, or use the metronome's flashing light.
• Wrist injury: do the footwork and count out loud; at the cushion, check the partner's rhythm.
• Limited mobility: clap the beat from the wheelchair and do compressions on a cushion placed on a table.

Learning goals

• Warm up with rhythmic movement.
• Internalize the 100–120 compressions per minute rhythm.
• Learn the basic hand and arm position for CPR.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cushions: 15
• speaker: 1

Teacher tip

Any free metronome app and a speaker will do; no music needed. Use firm cushions: very soft ones teach students to bend their elbows.

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