When it comes to performing effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), most people focus on the compression depth and rate. However, an equally crucial but often overlooked aspect is chest recoil. The quality of chest recoil during CPR can make the difference between life and death for cardiac arrest victims. This article explores what chest recoil is, why it matters, and the serious consequences of incomplete chest recoil during resuscitation efforts. What Is Chest Recoil in CPR? Chest recoil refers to the return of the chest wall to its natural, expanded position after each compression during CPR. During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood effectively throughout the body. CPR manually takes over this function through a two-part process: Compression phase : Pushing down on the chest to squeeze the heart and force blood out to vital organs Recoil phase : Completely releasing pressure to allow the chest to return to its resting position This second phase—the complete...