Meaning of CPR in Medical Term

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure combining chest compressions and rescue breaths to manually circulate blood when the heart stops beating. It keeps oxygen flowing to important organs until advanced medical care arrives.

How CPR Works

CPR maintains circulation by:

Compressing the heart between the sternum and spine to push blood forward
Creating negative pressure in the chest during rescue breaths to draw oxygen into the lungs
Alternating compressions and breaths in cycles to mimic natural heartbeat patterns

Each compression should depress the chest 2 inches (5 cm) at a rate of 100-120 per minute, according to the American Heart Association. Rescue breaths should last 1 second each.

Main Types of CPR

Type	Description	When Used
Conventional CPR	30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths	Performed by trained responders on adults, children, and infants
Hands-only CPR	Continuous chest compressions without rescue breaths	Used by untrained bystanders on adults in sudden cardiac arrest
Rescuer CPR	Same ratio as conventional but performed alone	When only one rescuer is available

Note: Hands-only CPR is not recommended for drowning victims or children under 12.

Common Misconceptions

Many people confuse CPR with other emergency responses:

When CPR Is Needed

Perform CPR when a person shows no signs of circulation:

Unresponsiveness to shouting and shaking
No normal breathing (occasional gasps don't count)
No pulse (check for up to 10 seconds)

Effectiveness

Studies show CPR can double or triple survival rates after cardiac arrest. Immediate bystander CPR increases survival by 30% before professional help arrives.

In my volunteer work as an EMT, I've seen hands-only CPR save lives in public spaces where conventional training wasn't available. The simplicity makes it easier for bystanders to act quickly.