What is the most common mistake healthcare providers make when performing CPR?

Answer 1

"Among the most common mistakes made [during CPR] are not giving compressions deep enough and performing compressions too fast or too slow."

CPR and AED Review Manual, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2005

The main way healthcare providers fail in CPR is not pushing deep enough or fast enough. In other words we are not aggressive enough...probably because we are afraid to break ribs, or we just don't understand the mechanics, or it is to much work to do it properly.

AHA says the emphasis of adult CPR should be placed on providing proper compressions with as few interruptions as possible. They describe it as fast and deep. At least 2 inches for the adult or a better way is 1/3 to 1/2 of the person's total chest depth (so no matter what the person's size is you know how far to push) The goal should be to provide around 100 compressions in 1 minute.

Why is it that chest compressions are the most important thing for adult CPR?

Because most adults go into cardiac arrest due to cardiac problems (Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Heart attack, Heart disease etc) and they need Oxygen circulated to keep the body alive (most importantly the brain) until ALS treatment can be provided and fix the problem. CPR doesn't fix cardiac problems it just buys the time and keeps the bodies tissue alive till advanced treatment can be administered.