The first aid responder should kneel close beside the casualty’s chest, with straight arms and shoulders directly over their hands so they can use their body weight to push straight down.

Correct body position

  • Kneel on a firm surface right next to the person’s chest, not up by the head or down by the hips.
  • Position your body so your shoulders are directly above the point where your hands will press on the chest.
  • Keep your back fairly straight and lean forward from the hips so you can push down using your upper body weight, not just your arm muscles.

Arm and hand position

  • Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest on the lower half of the breastbone (between the nipples), then place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers.
  • Keep your arms straight with elbows locked so the force travels straight down through your hands into the chest.
  • Press straight down 5–6 cm in adults (about one third of the chest depth), allowing the chest to fully rise each time, and aim for 100–120 compressions per minute.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.