When is it okay to stop CPR?

• A. When there is obvious signs of life
• B. If you are too exhausted
• C. If an AED arrives
• D. If a medical professional is present

Answer: (A)

When signs of life appear, stop CPR. If the person is starting to breathe normally, move, cough, or you can feel a pulse, that indicates circulation and oxygenation may be returning, so continuing chest compressions isn’t needed and could cause unnecessary harm. At that moment you pause, reassess, and let trained responders take over.

Exhaustion isn’t a blanket reason to stop on your own—if another trained person is available, rotate so compressions stay effective. The arrival of an AED isn’t a cue to quit right away; you pause only as needed to attach the pads and follow the device’s prompts. A medical professional present should take over care, but the moment to stop your CPR is driven by observable life signs, not by their arrival.