How often should rescuers switch positions during adult BLS CPR?

In adult Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR, rescuers should switch positions every 5 cycles of CPR, which is typically about every 2 minutes. This is to ensure that the quality of chest compressions remains high and effective throughout the resuscitation effort. Continuous high-quality compressions help to maintain blood flow to vital organs, especially the heart and brain, during cardiac arrest.

Switching out rescuers after this interval helps minimize fatigue, allowing each rescuer to perform compressions at the most effective depth and rate, which is critical for the victim's survival. By adhering to this time frame, rescuers can sustain their performance levels better than if they were to switch positions at longer intervals. This approach is based on research supporting the importance of minimizing fatigue in maintaining quality CPR.