When should you stop CPR?

• A. When EMS arrives or a higher-level responder takes over
• B. When the patient regains consciousness
• C. After a fixed 5-minute interval
• D. When you are too tired to continue

Answer: (A)

CPR should be stopped when someone with higher training arrives to take over. When EMS or another advanced responder arrives, they can continue resuscitation with the proper equipment and protocols, so you hand the patient and the situation over to them and stop performing chest compressions yourselves. This handoff keeps the care continuous and ensures the patient receives the appropriate next steps, such as defibrillation and airway management, from responders with the needed tools and authority.

There are other situations that can end CPR, such as the patient showing signs of life (awake, breathing spontaneously) or unsafe conditions at the scene, but a fixed time limit or simply being too tired aren’t the primary rule for stopping in most first-aid contexts. Exhaustion may be a real consideration if no one else is available to take over, but the key moment to stop and pass control is when a higher-level provider arrives.