CPR Compression Rate and Depth Trainer¶
Run the CPR Compression Rate and Depth Trainer MicroSim Fullscreen
You can embed this MicroSim in your own course website with this iframe:
About this MicroSim¶
CPR Compression Rate and Depth Trainer is an interactive MicroSim for this health-education textbook.
Students apply correct chest compression rate (100-120
Use the controls in the panel below the drawing to interact with the model, then talk through what changed and why. The MicroSim is width-responsive and can be embedded in any course page with the iframe shown above.
Bloom's Taxonomy level: Apply (L3) — demonstrate, execute, apply
Lesson Plan¶
Audience¶
This MicroSim is designed for Grades 9-12. For the K-3 bands the teacher typically drives the activity on a shared screen; older students can explore the MicroSim independently.
Learning Objective¶
Students apply correct chest compression rate (100-120
This activity targets Bloom's Apply (L3) (demonstrate, execute, apply).
Suggested Use (about 10 minutes)¶
- Warm up (2 min). Ask students what they already know about the topic and let one volunteer describe what they see on the screen.
- Model it (3 min). Demonstrate the interaction once, thinking aloud so students hear the reasoning behind each choice.
- Guided practice (3 min). Invite students to try the interaction and to predict what will happen before they act.
- Discuss (2 min). Ask why the result came out the way it did, connecting the on-screen result back to the learning objective above.
Check for Understanding¶
Have each student (or pair) explain their result in one sentence, using the vocabulary from this chapter. Look for reasoning that matches the Apply-level objective rather than a lucky guess.
Specification¶
The full specification below was extracted from Chapter 7: Brain Health, Sleep, and Emergency Care.
Type: microsim
**sim-id:** cpr-compression-rate-depth-trainer<br/>
**Library:** p5.js<br/>
**Status:** Specified
Bloom Taxonomy Level: Apply (L3)
Bloom Verb: demonstrate, execute, apply
Learning objective: Students apply correct chest compression rate (100-120
per minute) and depth (at least 2 inches) by tapping in rhythm with visual
feedback, reinforcing the muscle-memory timing used in real CPR.
Canvas layout:
- Left (55%): a metronome-style visual beat indicator and a simple chest
compression depth gauge
- Right (45%): a tap button (or spacebar target), rate readout in
compressions per minute, and a depth-simulation slider representing how
hard the student is "pressing"
Data Visibility Requirements:
Stage 1: Show the target rate zone (100-120 bpm) highlighted on a
visual tempo bar, alongside a real reference: the tempo of "Stayin'
Alive" by the Bee Gees, a widely used real-world memory aid for correct
CPR rate
Stage 2: Student taps the button repeatedly; the tool calculates their
actual tap rate in real time and displays whether they are too slow,
in range, or too fast
Stage 3: A separate depth slider requires the student to hold at least
a simulated "2 inch" mark before releasing, reinforcing that full
recoil matters as much as depth
Stage 4: After a 30-second trial, show a summary: average rate
achieved, percentage of compressions in the correct depth range, and a
persistent reminder that this is a rhythm-and-depth trainer, not a
substitute for certified hands-on practice
Interactive controls:
- Tap button / spacebar for compressions
- Depth slider
- Button: "Start 30-Second Trial"
- Button: "Reset"
Default parameters: Target rate 100-120 bpm; target depth marked at 2
inches on the slider scale
Instructional Rationale: Correct compression rate and depth are Apply-level
psychomotor skills that require rhythm practice, not just factual recall,
so a tap-timing tool with immediate rate/depth feedback is used rather
than a static diagram of hand placement.
Implementation notes: p5.js; rate calculated from timestamps between taps
over a rolling window; persistent on-screen note: "For awareness and
rhythm practice only — get certified hands-on training from a course such
as the American Heart Association or American Red Cross."
References¶
- Chapter 7: Brain Health, Sleep, and Emergency Care
- List of all MicroSims
- p5.js Reference (for the interactive graphics library)