Time used for ventilation in two-rescuer CPR with a bag-valve-mask device during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Professional rescuers delivered two bag-valve-mask ventilations within the 5-6 s as indicated in the 2000 Guidelines, slightly longer than the 3-4 s recommended in the 2005 Guidelines. However, only half the pauses were used for two ventilations, and the total time for two ventilations accounted for only 27% of the time without chest compressions. Excessive time for ventilation cannot explain the high no-flow time during CPR by professional rescuers before intubation.