When performing chest compressions, how should you position your hands?

Positioning your hands correctly during chest compressions is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The correct choice involves placing one hand at the center of the chest, over the lower half of the breastbone, and then placing the second hand on top of the first. This technique allows for better leverage and control while delivering compressions, ensuring that the compressions are both deep and at the proper rate.

When your hands are stacked, you utilize your body weight effectively, facilitating deeper and more efficient compressions. This is particularly important because proper compression depth (at least 2 inches in adults) is vital for creating sufficient blood flow during CPR. Furthermore, the positioning helps maintain correct alignment of the arms, reducing fatigue as you perform chest compressions, which is especially important if you need to perform CPR for an extended period.

The other options do not support effective chest compressions. For example, positioning one hand on the top of the breastbone does not allow for the appropriate leverage to apply adequate pressure. Placing both hands interlaced at the upper chest could lead to ineffective compressions, as the pressure would not be applied directly to the correct area of the chest. Arms extended away from the chest would