What is the second rescuer's primary role during CPR?

The second rescuer's primary role during CPR is to maintain an open airway and provide breaths. In a team approach to CPR, every rescuer has a specific function that contributes to the overall effectiveness of the resuscitation effort. When one rescuer is performing chest compressions, the second rescuer can help by ensuring that the airway remains open and delivering rescue breaths as needed. This allows for a more consistent flow of high-quality CPR, which is essential for increasing the chances of survival and minimizing the risk of brain damage due to lack of oxygen. Rescue breaths are a critical part of the process, especially in cases of cardiac arrest where the victim may not be breathing adequately on their own.

While calling for help and assessing the victim’s condition are important tasks, they are typically secondary to delivering immediate interventions that can sustain life. Administering medication is usually performed by advanced healthcare providers in specific settings and is not within the scope of standard CPR performed by lay rescuers or bystanders.