A chest containment system incorporates a restraint for circumscribing a patient's chest and having a handle attached to or contacting the restraint that is positionable over the patient's sternum. The handle is adapted to be grasped by an operator or first responder's hand to apply a downward force to the sternum and followed by an upward force, creating tension in the restraint, to increase the efficacy of resuscitation and enhance perfusion and veinous return.
