In pediatric CPR, how should chest compression depth be chosen?

• A. Depth should be very shallow for small children
• B. Depth should be deeper than adult guidelines
• C. Depth should be identical to adult guidelines
• D. Depth appropriate to the child and interruption minimization

Answer: (D)

Chest compression depth in pediatric CPR must be tailored to the child's size and focused on maintaining circulation. The goal is about one‑third of the chest’s depth, which for many children translates to roughly 2 inches (about 5 cm). This strikes a balance between generating adequate blood flow and avoiding injury, and it should be adjusted to the individual child rather than using a fixed adult depth. Also, keep interruptions to a minimum so the heart’s output isn’t repeatedly disrupted. Overly shallow compressions won’t move enough blood, while compressions that are too deep can cause harm, and using adult depth for a child ignores the anatomical differences between adults and kids.