Chapter 3: What does CAB mean in CPR? | American CPR Care Association

BLS for Healthcare CPR/AED and First Aid Combo Course Online Certification

Get certified online with our CPR/AED and First Aid Combo Course—designed for healthcare professionals and covering Adult, Child, and Infant care. Complete it in just 1–2 hours for instant 2-year certification, unlimited quiz retakes, and a free mailed wallet card.

Take Quiz

Select Courses

Register Now

chapter 3: C-A-B: Compressions, Airway, Breathing

CPR follows this order:

C – Compressions
A – Airway
B – Breathing

C-A-B Compressions Airway Breathing acca

We begin with compressions to keep blood moving.

The standard cycle for one rescuer is:
30 compressions followed by 2 breaths (30:2).

If you are not trained in rescue breaths, or do not feel comfortable giving them, perform Hands-Only CPR:

  • Call 9-1-1
  • Push hard and fast in the center of the chest
  • Do not stop

Hands-Only CPR is appropriate for sudden adult collapse. Breaths are especially important for children, infants, drowning victims, choking, or drug overdoses.