When giving compressions, you should kneel close to the victim’s chest, with your shoulders directly over your hands and your arms straight, elbows locked, using your body weight to push straight down.

Quick Scoop: Safe CPR Body Position

1. Core positioning (body and arms)

  • Kneel beside the person on a firm, flat surface, close enough that you don’t have to reach.
  • Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest (between the nipples), then place your other hand on top and interlock or stack your fingers off the chest.
  • Keep your arms straight with elbows locked; don’t bend at the elbows.
  • Position your shoulders directly above your hands so you can push straight down using your upper-body weight rather than just your arms.

Think of it like doing a vertical “push-up” over the person’s chest: straight arms, locked elbows, shoulders stacked over your hands.

2. Why this position matters

  • Straight arms and locked elbows help you deliver compressions deep enough (about 2–2.4 inches in adults) without tiring instantly.
  • Shoulders over hands keep your force straight down, which improves blood flow to the brain and heart.
  • Using your body weight instead of arm strength helps you maintain the recommended 100–120 compressions per minute.

3. A quick mental checklist

When you start compressions, quickly run through:

  1. Knees by the chest on a firm surface.
  1. Hands centered on the chest, fingers lifted off the ribs.
  1. Arms straight, elbows locked.
  1. Shoulders stacked over hands, pushing straight down with body weight.

If any of these feel “off” (for example, you’re reaching forward or your elbows are bent), adjust your body so you’re back in that strong, vertical position. TL;DR:
Kneel at the victim’s side, place your hands in the center of the chest, keep your arms straight with elbows locked, and stack your shoulders directly over your hands so you can press straight down using your body weight.

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