During resuscitation, when should you perform compressions?

Compressions should be performed only if there is no pulse since the primary goal during resuscitation is to maintain blood flow to vital organs when the heart is not able to do so. If a patient does not have a pulse, it indicates that the heart is not effectively pumping blood, and immediate chest compressions are essential to provide some degree of circulation.

In scenarios where the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute, it does not necessarily indicate the need for compressions if there is still a pulse. Compressions are not indicated if the patient has any form of spontaneous breathing because even minimal breathing means the heart may still be maintaining some level of circulation. Additionally, performing compressions during patient transport is typically not feasible or safe, as the focus during transport should be on stabilizing the patient and ensuring that they are monitored closely rather than continuing compressions that would be more effectively performed in a controlled environment.