Have you ever felt confused about getting the right speed during CPR training? If your pace is too fast or too slow, it might lead to failing the test. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the ideal CPR speed is approximately 100 to 120 BPM. BPM stands for Beats Per Minute, meaning 100 BPM equals 100 compressions per minute. In other words, 100 BPM translates to 10 cycles per minute (with each cycle consisting of 10 compressions).
The theory sounds simple, but in practice, many students find it hard to grasp. In CPR classes, instructors often play metronome sounds to help students understand the rhythm, and you can use the same method when practicing at home. For example, you can search Google for songs with a tempo between 100-120 BPM and follow their beat for CPR. However, I personally find following song beats less intuitive, and students with weaker rhythm sense might get lost. Instead, I recommend practicing with pure 100-120 BPM metronome sounds for easier mastery.
Below are three metronome sound videos for 100 BPM, 110 BPM, and 120 BPM, each counting 100 cycles. Try all three to find the speed that suits you best (I personally prefer 100 BPM).
100 BPM CPR Metronome:
110 BPM CPR Metronome:
120 BPM CPR Metronome:
If you feel 100, 110, or 120 BPM isn’t your ideal speed, leave a comment to let me know:
helenmilk.com Contact meFor more convenient access to these metronome videos, you can subscribe to this YouTube channel and watch them via the app:
https://www.youtube.com/@GeneralPurposeVideo