Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical lifesaving technique used when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest or stops breathing. When performed promptly, CPR helps maintain blood circulation and oxygen delivery to vital organs, especially the brain, until professional medical help arrives. Despite its importance, many people hesitate to act in emergencies because they fear performing CPR incorrectly.
The concern about making mistakes during CPR is common and understandable. People worry about causing broken ribs, internal injuries, or legal consequences, which often leads to hesitation or inaction. However, when a person is in cardiac arrest, this type of hesitation can be far more dangerous than imperfect technique, as delayed or absent CPR can dramatically reduce survival rates during sudden cardiac arrest.
This blog explains what happens if CPR is performed incorrectly, outlines the potential risks involved, and highlights why taking action, even if the technique is not perfect, can be the best decision you will ever make.
Why Does Proper CPR Technique Matter?
Proper CPR techniques matter because it helps to pump blood and oxygen to vital organs during cardiac arrest without causing much physical damage to the body. Some of the proper CPR techniques include proper hand placement, adequate depth, and an appropriate rhythm to maintain proper blood flow to the brain and heart.
Correct technique also improves the chances that defibrillation and advanced life support will be successful once emergency responders arrive. Well-performed CPR helps keep the heart and brain in a more responsive state, increasing the likelihood of restoring a normal heartbeat.
At the same time, it is important to remember that imperfect CPR is still better than no CPR at all. While proper technique maximizes effectiveness and minimizes injury risk, any attempt at chest compressions can help slow the progression of brain damage and improve survival, reinforcing the importance of taking action rather than hesitating during an emergency
What Are the Potential Consequences of Performing CPR Incorrectly?
Although CPR is designed to save lives, incorrect technique may result in unintended complications. Being aware of these potential consequences can help bystanders respond more confidently, knowing that the risks of CPR are far outweighed by the dangers of inaction.
Risks to the Person Receiving CPR
Here are the potential risks to the victim when the CPR is performed incorrectly:
1. Ineffective Circulation
When CPR is performed incorrectly, such as compressions that are too shallow, too slow, or off-center, it may fail to generate sufficient blood flow to the brain and heart. This inadequate circulation can accelerate oxygen deprivation, increasing the risk of irreversible brain damage and reducing the person’s chances of survival. Even small lapses in compression quality can make a significant difference during cardiac arrest.
2. Rib Fractures or Broken Ribs
Rib fractures are one of the most common injuries during CPR, even when performed correctly. Applying chest compressions with excessive force or incorrect hand placement can increase the likelihood of broken ribs. While these injuries can be painful, they are generally considered an acceptable risk compared to the life-saving benefits of CPR, as the alternative, untreated cardiac arrest, can be fatal.
3. Sternal Fracture (Broken Breastbone)
A sternal fracture can occur if chest compressions are performed with excessive force or if hand placement is incorrect. While this injury is painful and may require medical attention, it is rarely life-threatening. In emergencies, the potential risk of a broken breastbone is far outweighed by the life-saving benefits of performing CPR correctly or even imperfectly.
4. Internal Organ Injury
Incorrectly performed CPR, such as compressions that are too deep or off-center, can sometimes damage internal organs like the liver or spleen. This type of injury is uncommon but more likely in elderly, frail, or medically vulnerable individuals. Despite the risk, the potential harm is far less serious than the consequences of not performing CPR, as timely intervention is critical to saving a life.
5. Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung)
A pneumothorax can occur if chest compressions cause trauma to the lungs, leading to air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall. This can result in a partially or fully collapsed lung, which may cause shortness of breath and chest pain. Although serious, this complication is rare, but incorrect chest compressions can increase the risk.
6. Hemothorax
Gastric inflation happens when air enters the stomach instead of the lungs during rescue breaths, usually from giving breaths too forcefully or too quickly. This can cause stomach bloating, discomfort, and an increased risk of vomiting. While it is an undesirable side effect, gastric inflation is generally not life-threatening and does not outweigh the benefits of performing CPR, which helps maintain oxygen flow to vital organs.
7. Gastric Inflation
Gastric inflation happens when air from rescue breaths enters the stomach instead of the lungs. This usually occurs if breaths are given too forcefully or the airway is not properly opened. While it can cause discomfort or increase the risk of vomiting, gastric inflation is far less dangerous than not providing oxygen to the brain and heart during cardiac arrest.
8. Aspiration
Aspiration occurs when stomach contents are accidentally inhaled into the lungs, which can happen if vomiting occurs during CPR. This can lead to serious complications, such as aspiration pneumonia, and may require medical treatment. Using hands-only CPR or ensuring proper airway management during rescue breaths can reduce the risk, but even with this risk, performing CPR remains far safer than doing nothing in a cardiac emergency.
Risks to the Rescuers
Here are the potential risks to the rescuer when the incorrect techniques are used:
1. Back and Arm Strain
If CPR is performed incorrectly, such as using poor posture, bending at the waist, or relying only on arm strength instead of body weight, the rescuer is more likely to experience back, shoulder, and arm strain. Incorrect technique increases physical fatigue, which can cause compressions to become weaker or inconsistent over time. This not only raises the risk of muscle injury for the rescuer but can also reduce the effectiveness of CPR, potentially limiting blood flow to the victim’s brain and heart.
2. Emotional or Psychological Distress
Performing CPR incorrectly can lead to emotional or psychological distress for the rescuer, particularly if the outcome is unfavorable. Individuals may experience guilt, anxiety, or self-doubt, worrying that mistakes in technique contributed to the person’s condition or survival.
Even when CPR is performed appropriately, bystanders often struggle with stress or trauma after the event; concerns about having “done it wrong” can intensify these feelings. This emotional impact is common and does not indicate failure, especially since taking action during cardiac arrest is far better than doing nothing.
Can Performing CPR Incorrectly Kill Someone?
It is extremely unlikely that performing CPR incorrectly will kill someone who is already in cardiac arrest. When a person’s heart has stopped, or they are not breathing, they are clinically dying, and without immediate intervention, death is almost certain. In this situation, CPR does not make the outcome worse; it provides a chance for survival.
While incorrect CPR may cause injuries such as broken ribs or bruising, these injuries are rarely life-threatening and are treatable once medical care is available. The greatest risk comes from not performing CPR at all, as every minute without chest compressions significantly reduces the chance of survival and increases the likelihood of severe brain damage. In emergencies, attempting CPR, even if imperfect, is far safer than doing nothing.
Legal Protection: Can You Get Sued for Incorrect CPR?
In most countries and U.S. states, Good Samaritan laws are designed to protect people who provide emergency care, including CPR, in good faith. These laws generally shield bystanders from legal liability if they attempt to help someone in a life-threatening emergency, even if the CPR is performed imperfectly or results in unintended injuries.
As long as the rescuer acts voluntarily, without gross negligence or intentional harm, they are unlikely to face legal consequences. Courts recognize that emergencies are chaotic and that untrained or minimally trained individuals cannot be expected to perform perfectly under pressure. The law prioritizes encouraging people to act rather than hesitate out of fear of being sued.
While laws can vary by location, the risk of legal action for providing CPR in good faith is extremely low. In contrast, failing to act during a cardiac emergency can have devastating consequences. Understanding these legal protections can help reduce fear and empower more people to step in and save lives when it matters most.
How Can Rescuers Minimize Errors During CPR?
While CPR can save lives even if not perfect, there are ways to minimize mistakes and increase effectiveness.
Below are the ways to reduce the risk of performing CPR incorrectly:
1. Get Trained in CPR
Attending a certified CPR course provides hands-on practice with correct hand placement, compression depth, and timing. Familiarity with the steps increases confidence and effectiveness during real emergencies.
2. Follow Emergency Dispatcher Instructions
If you are unsure during a cardiac arrest, 911 or your local emergency dispatcher can guide you step by step. Listening carefully and following instructions can reduce errors and improve the quality of CPR.
3. Use Hands-Only CPR if Untrained
For untrained rescuers, performing chest compressions without rescue breaths (Hands-only CPR) is recommended. It simplifies the process, reduces the risk of mistakes while giving breaths, and is still highly effective at circulating blood.
4. Maintain Proper Body Mechanics
Keep your arms straight, use your body weight over the chest, and compress at the recommended depth and rate. This reduces fatigue and increases the efficiency of each compression.
5. Practice Regularly
Periodic refreshers or practicing on a CPR manikin can reinforce proper technique and keep skills sharp, ensuring faster, more effective response during emergencies.
6. Stay Calm and Focused
Anxiety can cause hesitation or rushed compressions. Taking a deep breath, staying calm, and focusing on compressions can improve both the quality and safety of CPR.
Don’t Hesitate: Learn CPR and Be Ready to Act
Performing CPR, even imperfectly, is far better than doing nothing during a cardiac emergency. While incorrect technique may cause minor injuries such as broken ribs, sternal fractures, or temporary discomfort, the life-saving benefits of chest compressions far outweigh these risks. Acting quickly maintains blood flow to the brain and heart, buying critical time until professional medical help arrives, and significantly improves the chances of survival. Legal protections like Good Samaritan laws further ensure that rescuers can provide aid without fear of liability. Ultimately, the most important step is to act; hesitation can be far more dangerous than minor mistakes, because taking action, even if imperfect, can truly save a life.
However, the best way to act with confidence and minimize uncertainty during an emergency is through proper training. Taking a CPR course is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of performing CPR incorrectly and to respond decisively when it matters most. CPR VAM is a CPR training center that provides CPR, BLS, PALS, and ACLS courses, offering hands-on instruction and up-to-date, evidence-based training for both healthcare professionals and the general public. Enrolling in a certified course not only helps you master proper technique but also prepares you to act quickly and correctly when every second matters. Investing in CPR training today could mean the difference between life and death tomorrow.
