After exposing a patient's chest for CPR, how should your hands be placed?

When performing CPR, proper hand placement is crucial for effective compressions. The correct option involves placing the hands with the fingers interlaced on the lower sternum. This positioning allows the rescuer to apply force directly to the center of the chest, which is essential for generating adequate blood flow during compressions.

The interlacing of fingers also helps to stabilize the hands and prevent them from slipping during compressions, ensuring that the force applied is consistent and directed. This hand positioning also allows for better leverage and reduces the risk of injuries to both the rescuer and the patient.

In contrast, placing the hands flat on the chest does not provide a stable or effective force for compressions, and it is less likely to drive blood effectively through the heart. The option that suggests one hand lower and one hand higher would compromise the mechanics of chest compressions and is not recommended. Similarly, placing the hands on the abdomen is completely inappropriate, as compressions should focus on the central part of the chest to be effective during CPR. Therefore, the recommended position ensures not only effectiveness in compressions but also safety for both the patient and the rescuer.