When assessing a patient during one-rescuer CPR, when should you check for a pulse?

The appropriate time to check for a pulse during one-rescuer CPR is after every 5 cycles of CPR. This guideline is based on the understanding that continuous chest compressions are essential for maintaining blood flow to vital organs during a cardiac arrest. Checking for a pulse after a set number of cycles allows the rescuer to minimize interruptions in compressions while ensuring that they are providing sufficient time to evaluate the effectiveness of the resuscitative efforts.

In this case, waiting for 5 cycles, which equates to approximately 2 minutes of CPR, provides a balance between initiating a pulse check and allowing enough time for the interventions to potentially restore circulation. A frequent pulse check, such as after every cycle, may disrupt the rhythm and effectiveness of compressions, hindering the overall efficacy of the CPR being administered. This structured approach helps ensure that the responder can efficiently assess the situation while maintaining the primary focus on providing effective chest compressions.