When should resuscitation be stopped?

• A. After 30 minutes of no visible improvement.
• B. After 5 minutes with no visible improvement.
• C. When the patient regains consciousness.
• D. After 60 minutes regardless.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is recognizing when continued CPR is unlikely to change the outcome and should be stopped to reallocate focus and resources. During resuscitation you monitor for signs that circulation and oxygen delivery are returning—any movement, breathing effort, color change, or a detectable pulse indicates ROSC and means you should stop chest compressions and proceed with post-resuscitation care. If there are no signs of life or improvement despite high-quality CPR for a substantial period, the chance of a meaningful recovery is extremely low. Thirty minutes of continuous CPR without signs of improvement is a commonly used threshold in basic training to determine that continuing is unlikely to help, so stopping at that point is appropriate. Stopping earlier (after just a few minutes) risks missing a delayed return of circulation, while continuing much longer (for example, an hour) is generally not advised in simplified first-aid guidance when there are no signs of life. If signs of life appear at any time, you stop CPR immediately and transition to care.