Hands-Only CPR to the Beat
Hands-Only CPR practice: check responsiveness and breathing, call 911 and push hard and fast on the chest at 100 to 120 per minute to a song with that beat. Students work on responding to cardiac arrest, correct technique and efficient switching between rescuers.
How to play
- Spend 3 minutes on the chain of survival: recognize, call 911, push and get the AED.
- Demonstrate the sequence on the manikin: tap the shoulders and shout, open the airway, look and listen for 10 seconds and call on speakerphone. 3 minutes.
- In groups of 4 or 5 with one manikin on a mat, practice hand position: heel of the hand on the center of the chest, arms straight, shoulders over the hands. 4 minutes.
- Compressions to music: 1-minute cycles to a song at about 110 beats per minute, pushing down about 2 inches; the rest of the group counts out loud and watches posture. 8 minutes, rotating.
- Realistic switch: the group does 4 straight minutes of compressions, changing rescuers every 2 minutes with no more than a 2-second pause.
- Wrap up for 3 minutes: talk about fatigue, mistakes and why it matters to start even without formal training.
Rules
- Compressions are never practiced on a person, only on the manikin.
- Kneel on the mat to protect your knees.
- Before touching the manikin, say out loud that the scene is safe.
Variations
Easier
Do 30-second cycles while you clap the beat.
Standard
1-minute cycles to music and a switch every 2 minutes.
Harder
Run a full scene with distractions, a 911 call giving the location and nonstop switches.
Adaptations
- For limited mobility, put the manikin on a table or have the student make the call and keep the beat.
- For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, mark the beat with a flashing light or a visual metronome app on a phone.
- Students with less arm strength practice shorter cycles and learn to use body weight rather than arm muscles.
Learning goals
- Recognize cardiac arrest and activate the chain of survival.
- Perform chest compressions at the right rate and depth.
- Switch with a partner without interrupting compressions.
Equipment for a class of 25
- basic CPR manikin: 6
- mats: 6
- music: 1
- stopwatch: 1
Teacher tip
The most common mistake is bending the elbows and pushing too shallow; have students listen for the manikin's click if it has one.
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