How can you tell if CPR is effective?

To determine the effectiveness of CPR, it's crucial to monitor specific physiological signs that indicate the heart and lungs are responding to the interventions. When checking for a pulse and observing chest rise during breaths, these are clear indicators of whether the individual is receiving adequate circulation and oxygenation.

Chest rise signifies that air is being pushed into the lungs, which is essential for providing oxygen to the body’s organs. Meanwhile, checking for a pulse can indicate whether the heart has resumed its rhythm and is effectively circulating blood once again. If there's no pulse, it shows the heart isn't functioning adequately, and if there's absent chest rise with rescuers giving breaths, this indicates ineffective ventilation.

Other methods, such as asking the person if they are okay, counting compressions, or measuring blood pressure, do not provide a reliable assessment of CPR's effectiveness in real-time. While counting compressions ensures that the compressions maintain the correct rate, it doesn't directly confirm that blood flow is adequate or that the individual is responding. Similarly, assessing blood pressure during CPR is not practical or feasible, and such measures could delay critical interventions. Therefore, monitoring for a pulse and chest rise offers the most immediate and relevant indicators of effective CPR.