What should you do after each push during chest compressions?

After each push during chest compressions, it is essential to release the pressure to allow full recoil of the chest. This is critical because allowing the chest to fully recoil between compressions promotes better blood flow back to the heart. The chest cavity acts like a vacuum when it recoils, which helps to fill the heart with blood. Sufficiently allowing for recoil ensures that compressions are effective in generating circulation during cardiac arrest.

If there is inadequate recoil, the effectiveness of compressions is significantly reduced, which can compromise the delivery of oxygenated blood to vital organs. Moreover, maintaining an appropriate compression-to-recoil ratio is essential for maximizing the efficiency of these life-saving maneuvers. Therefore, the emphasis is on ensuring that complete recoil occurs after each compression, which directly contributes to the success of the resuscitation effort.