At what age is a person considered an adult for CPR purposes?

For the purposes of CPR training and guidelines, a person is typically considered an adult at 12 years and older. This age designation is important because the techniques and interventions used for adults differ from those used for infants and children.

Children aged 12 and under usually receive pediatric CPR techniques, which involve different methods of rescue breaths and compressions that cater to their physiological differences. The rationale behind designating 12 years as the cutoff reflects a balance where individuals are generally more physically capable of undergoing adult CPR techniques, including the depth and force of compressions needed to effectively circulate blood during cardiac arrest situations.

In the context of this question, it is also significant to highlight that the age range for considering someone as an adult can vary among different organizations or contexts; however, for CPR certifications provided by entities like the National Safety Council, the 12-year-old threshold is widely accepted and utilized in training programs.