How should you position your hands, arms, and shoulders when giving compressions?

When delivering chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the correct technique is crucial for effectiveness. Positioning your hands, arms, and shoulders stacked over the guest ensures that the force of your compressions is directed down into the chest, maximizing their effectiveness. It allows for greater stability and power in your compressions, enabling you to compress the chest to the appropriate depth consistently.

This positioning also helps to maintain proper body alignment and reduces the risk of injury to yourself while performing the compressions. By keeping your shoulders aligned over your hands, you can utilize your body weight to assist in delivering effective compressions without excessive strain.

In contrast, extending your arms outward to the sides, positioning them above shoulder level, or holding them in a relaxed position can lead to ineffective compressions. These positions do not facilitate the direct downward force needed to compress the chest adequately, which is crucial for maintaining blood circulation during a cardiac event.