During adult CPR, how often should one check for signs of life?

During adult CPR, it is essential to check for signs of life periodically to assess the effectiveness of the resuscitation efforts. The correct frequency to check for signs of life is after 2 minutes of continuous CPR. This time frame is based on the recommendations from organizations like the American Heart Association.

Performing CPR continuously for 2 minutes ensures that the victim receives adequate chest compressions and ventilation, which increases the chances of restoring circulation or prompting the need for further intervention, such as defibrillation. Frequent interruptions in CPR could diminish blood flow to vital organs, so maintaining a rhythm for an extended period before reassessing the situation is critical.

Checking for signs of life after 2 minutes allows the responder to evaluate if the victim is still unresponsive and does not compromise the essential flow of doing high-quality chest compressions.