4-2.
THE TWO-RESCUER METHOD
If you have another person qualified to administer CPR ready to help you, two-
rescuer CPR should be performed. In two-rescuer CPR, one rescuer is responsible for
administering chest compressions while the other rescuer is responsible for
administering ventilations. In this paragraph, it is assumed that you have already
moved the casualty to safety if required (paragraph 3-1), checked for responsiveness
(paragraph 3-2), called for help (paragraph 3-3), checked for spinal injury (paragraph 3-
4), and positioned the casualty on his back on a firm surface (paragraph 3-5). It is also
assumed a soldier who is qualified to perform two-rescuer CPR has answered your call
for help.
a. Position Yourselves. One rescuer positions himself at the side of the
casualty's head. This rescuer (called the ventilator rescuer from now on) will administer
ventilations to the casualty. The other rescuer positions himself at the casualty's chest
on the opposite side from the ventilator rescuer (figure 4-4). The second rescuer (called
the compressor rescuer from now on) administers the chest compressions. Rescuers
should be on opposite sides of the casualty so that each rescuer has room to perform
two-rescuer CPR. If both rescuers must be on the same side (in a ground ambulance,
for example), both rescuers must be careful to avoid accidental contact which could
interfere with the efficiency of their CPR efforts.
Figure 4-4. Rescuers positioned for two-rescuer CPR.
MD0532
4-8