German Phrase
Drück kräftig und schnell auf die Brust.
Meaning
A direct instruction meaning ‘Press firmly and quickly on the chest.’ It is typically heard in emergency‑first‑aid contexts, such as teaching CPR or checking for breathing.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are giving a clear, urgent command to someone performing chest compressions, e.g., in a medical training class, during a rescue scenario, or when guiding a layperson through first‑aid steps.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DrückkräftigundschnellaufdieBrust
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Drück’ is the informal imperative form of the verb ‘drücken’ (to press). It is used for direct commands to ‘du’.
Adverbs – kräftig & schnell
‘kräftig’ (firmly) and ‘schnell’ (quickly) modify the verb and describe how the action should be performed.
Prepositional phrase ‘auf die Brust’
‘auf’ + accusative indicates motion onto a surface; therefore ‘die Brust’ (accusative) is required, not ‘der Brust’ (dative).
Coordinating conjunction ‘und’
Connects the two adverbs, showing that both qualities apply simultaneously.
🗨In Conversation
Wie soll ich die Herzdruckmassage ausführen?
How should I perform chest compressions?
Drück kräftig und schnell auf die Brust.
Press firmly and quickly on the chest.
✕Common Mistakes
Drücken kräftig und schnell auf die Brust.
‘drücken’ is infinitive; the command needs the imperative ‘drück’ (or ‘drücken Sie’ formally).
Drück stark und schnell auf die Brust.
‘stark’ is a synonym for ‘strong’ but does not convey the same nuance as ‘kräftig’ in this medical context.
Drück kräftig und schnell auf dem Brust.
‘auf’ with a motion onto something requires the accusative case; therefore it must be ‘die Brust’, not dative ‘dem Brust’.
↔Alternatives
Übe einen festen und schnellen Druck auf die Brust.
Apply a firm and fast pressure on the chest.
Drücken Sie kräftig und zügig auf die Brust.
Press firmly and swiftly on the chest. (formal)
Setz Kraft und Tempo beim Drücken auf die Brust ein.
Use strength and speed when pressing on the chest.
Cultural Tip
In German emergency instructions the informal imperative (‘drück’) is common when speaking to a peer or a trainee. In a professional or formal setting you would switch to the polite form ‘drücken Sie’. Also, German first‑aid courses stress the importance of both depth and speed – typically 5‑6 cm at 100–120 compressions per minute – which is why the adverbs ‘kräftig’ and ‘schnell’ appear together.