37.6. What is the correct ratio of chest compressions to artificial respiration during cardiopulmonary resuscitation?
UAЯке співвідношення проведення частоти натискань на грудну клітку та штучного дихання є правильним при проведенні серцево-легеневої реанімації?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety in the context of providing first aid after a traffic accident. The theoretical exam often includes not only the “technical” rules of the road, but also basic driver actions that can save lives: proper performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before the arrival of emergency services.
The topic tests the driver’s duties in the event of involvement in a traffic accident, specifically item 2.10 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (subparagraph “g”) regarding the need to take possible measures to assist the injured and call for emergency medical help; as well as subparagraph “e”, which emphasizes the priority of saving lives. Within this section, it is important to understand the standard CPR algorithm: chest compressions take priority because they maintain minimal blood circulation, and two rescue breaths are needed to oxygenate the blood; before giving breaths, airway patency is ensured, particularly by tilting the head back.
Among the options, the ratios 5 to 1 and 15 to 1 do not correspond to the current basic approach to first aid training for adults in the context of mass driver education: they either interrupt compressions too frequently, reducing the effectiveness of circulation, or do not provide a balanced cycle. Instead, the correct cycle provides a sufficient number of compressions to maintain brain and heart perfusion and a short pause for two breaths, after which resuscitation continues without unnecessary stops until signs of life appear, medical personnel arrive, or it becomes physically impossible to continue. This knowledge directly helps to answer the exam question and, most importantly, to act correctly in a real road situation.
Clause 2.10 (driver's duties in case of involvement in a traffic accident, subclause "g")
"In case of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged to: ... g) take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, call for emergency medical help, and also report the incident to the National Police authority (unit)."
This exam question specifically checks the practical understanding of the content "take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance," which includes performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to the generally accepted algorithm (including the correct alternation of compressions and breaths).
Clause 2.10 (driver's duties in case of involvement in a traffic accident, subclause "h")
"If it is impossible to fulfill the requirements of subclause 'g' of this clause, the driver is obliged to transport the victims to the nearest medical facility using their own vehicle, having first recorded the location of accident traces and the position of the vehicle after it has stopped; at the medical facility, report their surname and the vehicle's license plate number (upon presentation of an identity document or driver's license and vehicle registration document) and return to the scene of the accident."
This provision additionally emphasizes the priority of saving life/health and the necessity of providing/organizing pre-medical assistance to the victims.
That is, the correct answer is "30 to 2," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged to "take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims," and the standard CPR algorithm provides for alternating 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths.
During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it is important to simultaneously perform two tasks: maintain minimal blood circulation and provide oxygen supply. That is why chest compressions (to "push" blood) are combined with artificial breaths (so that this blood is saturated with oxygen).
Chest compressions are a priority because even a small but continuous blood supply to the brain and heart significantly increases the chances of restoring vital functions. If compressions are interrupted too often for breaths, blood circulation quickly drops, and the effectiveness of resuscitation decreases.
Artificial respiration is added to ensure that oxygen enters the lungs and then the blood. To allow air to pass into the airways, it is necessary to ensure their patency before breaths, in particular by properly tilting the victim's head. After a series of compressions, two "mouth-to-mouth" breaths are performed, and then compressions are resumed.
In practice, this looks like a clear cycle: first 30 chest compressions, then 2 breaths, and repeat this without unnecessary pauses until obvious signs of life appear, an ambulance crew arrives, or the rescuer is physically able to continue.
Therefore, the correct answer is "30 to 2," because in CPR this alternation provides a sufficient number of compressions to maintain circulation and two breaths to saturate the blood with oxygen without long interruptions.