Build a CPR Practice Trainer

You need

• A bath towel (or 2–3 T-shirts)
• Packing or duct tape
• A shoebox, or 2 thick books
• or an empty 2-liter bottle with its cap
• A ruler or a long pencil
• A strip of colored tape or a marker
• A mat or folded towel to kneel on

Option A · Towel chest

1. Fold the towel in half the long way, then roll it up as tight as you can.
2. Wrap tape around the roll every 3–4 inches so it stays tight.
3. Lay it in the shoebox (lid off), or wedge it between two books, so it can't roll away.
4. Push on it: it should squash down about 2 inches and spring back up.

Option B · Bottle chest

1. Empty and dry a 2-liter bottle. Screw the cap on tight; the trapped air pushes it back up.
2. Lay it on its side on the floor between two books.
3. Put a folded hand towel on top as "skin" so your hands don't slip.

The 2-inch depth marker

1. Stand the ruler (or pencil) upright right next to the chest.
2. Put a strip of tape at the height of the top of the chest.
3. Put a second strip 2 inches (5 cm) lower. That's the push line.
4. When you push, the heel of your hand should reach the push line, then rise all the way back to the top line (full recoil).

Practice

• Kneel beside the chest. Heel of one hand in the center, other hand on top.
• Arms straight, shoulders right over your hands; push from your hips.
• Follow the beat: 100–120 a minute. Use the Class Practice timer on the side quest page.
• Push for 2 minutes, then switch rescuers. Keep pauses under 10 seconds.