TL;DR:
Rib fractures are common during CPR, but that should not stop you from continuing chest compressions in a life-or-death emergency. Broken ribs don’t guarantee CPR effectiveness—signs like regained breathing, pulse, or movement matter more. CPR certification ensures you’re prepared to act confidently while protected under Good Samaritan laws.
In this article, we’ll provide what you need to know about CPR and cracked ribs, CPR and broken ribs, and answer pressing questions such as:
- How often do ribs break during CPR?
- Do you have to break ribs for CPR?
- Does a fractured rib mean CPR was effective?
- How common are injuries from CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving emergency procedure that is administered when someone experiences respiratory or cardiac arrest. Before performing CPR, always call 911 to make sure help is on the way, as recommended by the American Heart Association.
Performing CPR involves chest compressions and rescue breaths. The chest compressions need to be at least 2 inches deep if you’re performing CPR on an adult. When you perform chest compressions, place one hand on top of the other on the victim’s chest, push down hard and fast to circulate blood, and let the person’s chest rise for the next compression.
As you push someone’s chest down, you may feel a rib break and hear a cracking sound in the process. You may also hear bones moving against cartilage. Rib fractures during CPR are not common, but you should be prepared for them.
It’s important to consider the CPR victim’s background: for example, are they elderly? If they’re elderly, the likelihood of rib fractures occurring is greater due to the fragility of their bones.
Nevertheless, the risks of rib fractures should not deter you from performing CPR (if you are CPR certified and received consent to do so, of course). Good Samaritan laws protect people who voluntarily help another person during a medical emergency, and you will not be punished for breaking someone’s ribs while performing CPR.
What to Do if Bones Break During CPR
You don’t have to break ribs to perform CPR. Breaking a rib or ribs is something that can happen as you perform chest compressions. If this happens, don’t panic. Re-landmark your hands on the victim’s chest, and keep going. In a matter of life or death, you must do what you need to do to save lives.
At the same time, fractured ribs themselves do not mean a CPR procedure was carried out effectively.
To determine whether CPR was performed effectively, look out for these signs instead.
- The person who received CPR has regained consciousness and is breathing normally
- A strong pulse has returned and can be detected
- The person who received CPR is coughing and moving
Broken Ribs During CPR
Thankfully broken ribs from CPR will not affect the effectiveness or success of the procedure, which is why we highly recommend continuing even when you feel broken ribs during CPR.
Get CPR Certified
To perform CPR effectively, you must have an up-to-date CPR certification. In doing so, you automatically make every environment you enter safer because you would be prepared to act if a medical emergency were to occur.
Sign up for online classes through the American AED/CPR Association and get CPR certified today.