What Does CAB Stand For in CPR?
CAB in CPR stands for Compressions, Airway, and Breathing, and the order of those three letters is not a coincidence. It is the sequence the American Heart Association (AHA) directs rescuers to follow during cardiac arrest, and it has been the current standard since 2010. Starting with compressions instead of the airway keeps blood moving to the brain immediately, buying the critical minutes that matter most before emergency help arrives. C Is for Compressions The C stands for chest compressions, not circulation. That distinction matters because in the older ABC method, the C at the end stood for circulation. In CAB, compressions come first, and for good reason. For an adult, push straight down on the lower half of the breastbone at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute and a depth of at least 2 inches (but no more than 2.4 inches). Allow the chest to fully recoil between each push, and keep any interruptions under 10 seconds. Those pauses cost blood flow, and blood flow i...