When a person stops breathing or when a person's heart stops beating normally, getting blood to the brain and heart is necessary to prevent death. This can be done using a procedure called cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. Medical professionals, police officers, fire fighters and members of the general public can learn CPR procedures through training courses.
Purpose
The purpose of CPR is to keep some blood flowing to the brain and heart despite the irregular heart functions of the patient. Without blood flow, the patient may suffer permanent brain damage within minutes. If the patient goes eight to 10 minutes without blood flow, death is possible, states the Mayo Clinic. Because of these risks, CPR should be continued until medical professionals are able to care for the patient and restore a normal heart rhythm.
Techniques
Chest compressions and rescue breathing are the two techniques used in CPR. Chest compressions pump blood throughout the body so that oxygen can travel around the body to the vital organs until the heart regains normal function. Rescue breathing fills the lungs with oxygen and works with chest compressions to keep oxygen in the body.
Types
There are three types of CPR according to the National Library of Medicine: infant, child and adult. Infant CPR is done to children under 1 year old. Child CPR is for children who are 1 year old to 8 years old. Anyone over 8 years old can benefit from adult CPR.
Components
There are three components of CPR, according to the Nemours Foundation. These are known as the "ABC's of CPR." The letters stand for airway, breathing and circulation. In order for CPR to be effective, the airway must be cleared of obstructions. Once the airway is clear, breathing is necessary. This is achieved through rescue breathing. Chest compressions must be done in coordination with the rescue breaths to get the blood circulating.
Considerations
In order for CPR to be effective, the rescuer performing CPR should be trained in how to do the procedure. For a person who is trained in coordinating rescue breathing and chest compressions, doing these together is called full CPR. Even if no one near a victim knows how to perform full CPR, it is still possible for a bystander to help by offering "hands only" CPR. This means that the rescuer performs only rapid chest compressions, ideally 100 per minute, without doing any rescue breathing.
