How long should you typically administer CPR before calling for help if alone?

When performing CPR alone, the recommended practice is to administer chest compressions and rescue breaths for about 2 minutes before calling for help. This time frame is essential because during the initial moments of cardiac arrest, the victim's chances of survival significantly increase with immediate and effective CPR.

By committing this short period to providing care, you maximize the victim's chance of survival, as brain death can occur within a few minutes without oxygen. The 2-minute guideline allows for an adequate amount of emergency intervention that can stabilize the victim while also ensuring that help is on the way as soon as possible.

Calling for help immediately after this brief window ensures that emergency services can be dispatched while you continue to provide life-saving measures, aligning with the best practices in emergency response protocols.