An automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device comprising: a compression element for acting on a compression location on a chest of a patient, and an optical alignment aid configured and arranged for projecting, at least temporarily, a light pattern on the patient, wherein the optical alignment aid is configured and arranged to be in a predefined spatial relation with respect to the compression element during at least part of a placement procedure of the automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device, a portal holding the compression element and the optical alignment aid (212, 213), the portal being mountable to a backboard by means of connectors, wherein the portal is flippable onto the backboard 130 by pivoting the portal around at least one of the connectors which acts as a hinge, wherein the optical alignment aid comprises at least two light sources (212, 213), wherein at least one light source of the at least two light sources is located on a first side of the compression element and at least a second light source of the at least two light sources is located on a second opposite side of the compression element, the optical alignment aid further being configured and arranged to produce light emissions (214, 215) from the at least two light sources for projecting a light pattern that comprises (i) a conjointly formed light pattern projected onto the patient in use during an initial phase of the pivot motion of the portal, and (ii) two separate light patterns projected onto the patient at either side of the compression element in use during a last phase of the pivot motion of the portal and in an operation configuration of the device. a compression element for acting on a compression location on a chest of a patient, and an optical alignment aid configured and arranged for projecting, at least temporarily, a light pattern on the patient, wherein the optical alignment aid is configured and arranged to be in a predefined spatial relation with respect to the compression element during at least part of a placement procedure of the automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device, a portal holding the compression element and the optical alignment aid (212, 213), the portal being mountable to a backboard by means of connectors, wherein the portal is flippable onto the backboard 130 by pivoting the portal around at least one of the connectors which acts as a hinge, wherein the optical alignment aid comprises at least two light sources (212, 213), wherein at least one light source of the at least two light sources is located on a first side of the compression element and at least a second light source of the at least two light sources is located on a second opposite side of the compression element, the optical alignment aid further being configured and arranged to produce light emissions (214, 215) from the at least two light sources for projecting a light pattern that comprises (i) a conjointly formed light pattern projected onto the patient in use during an initial phase of the pivot motion of the portal, and (ii) two separate light patterns projected onto the patient at either side of the compression element in use during a last phase of the pivot motion of the portal and in an operation configuration of the device. (i) a conjointly formed light pattern projected onto the patient in use during an initial phase of the pivot motion of the portal, and (ii) two separate light patterns projected onto the patient at either side of the compression element in use during a last phase of the pivot motion of the portal and in an operation configuration of the device.