What is the primary role of rescuer 2 in a two-rescuer CPR scenario for adults?

In a two-rescuer CPR scenario for adults, the primary role of rescuer 2 is to maintain open airways. This task is crucial because, while one rescuer is engaged in delivering chest compressions, the other is responsible for ensuring that the airway is clear and patent, allowing for effective rescue breaths. Proper ventilation is vital to ensure that oxygen is delivered efficiently to the patient’s lungs and circulatory system.

Maintaining an open airway involves techniques such as the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver or, in some cases, using advanced airway adjuncts if they are available and the rescuer is trained to do so. This coordination between the two rescuers enhances the overall effectiveness of CPR and increases the chances of a positive outcome for the patient.

The other roles, while important in their own right, do not encompass the primary responsibility of rescuer 2 during a two-rescuer CPR situation. Switching roles and performing chest compressions are necessary actions but do not solely define rescuer 2’s primary responsibility in this context.