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CPR

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What is CPR?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency lifesaving procedure that is performed when a person's own breathing or heartbeat have stopped, such as in cases of electric shock , heart attack, or drowning. CPR is a critical part of the ABC's of first response: A for airway B for breathing C for circulation CPR combines rescue breathing and chest compressions . Rescue breathing provides oxygen to the person's lungs. Chest compressions keep oxygen-rich blood circul...



Alternative names

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation



Causes



What is CPR?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency lifesaving procedure that is performed when a person's own breathing or heartbeat have stopped, such as in cases of electric shock, heart attack, or drowning. CPR is a critical part of the ABC's of first response:

  • A for airway
  • B for breathing
  • C for circulation

CPR combines rescue breathing and chest compressions. Rescue breathing provides oxygen to the person's lungs. Chest compressions keep oxygen-rich blood circulating until an effective heartbeat and breathing can be restored.

Permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes if blood flow stops. Therefore, it is critical that blood flow and breathing be continued until trained medical help arrives.

CPR techniques vary slightly depending on the age or size of the patient.

See also:

Alternative names

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

References

Hirshon JM. Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 12.

Content provided by:

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Review Date: 7/8/2009

Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

CPR Videos

CPR Articles

  • Facts on CPR

    CPR is a life-saving measure everyone should know how to perform. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a series of rescue breaths and chest compressions used to keep alive someone with trouble b...

  • Types of CPR

    Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is "... a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions delivered to victims thought to be in cardiac arrest," according to the American Heart Associ...

  • Complications of CPR

    Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a technique used to support the circulation of blood and oxygen in the body of a victim who is not breathing and does not have a pulse. CPR is physically i...

  • How to Perform CPR

    Determine if the person is unconscious. If she appears to be unconscious, gently shake her shoulder and ask, "Are you OK?"

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Conversations On CPR

  • BP & CPR

    ...TROL MY BP AND SO I WON'T END UP HAVING CPR, I NEED TO FOLLOW THESE RULES "DO NOT EAT THE FOLLOWING CARBS!": NO B-READ NO P-ASTA NO C-EREAL NO P-OTATOES NO R-ICE I AM GETTING MYSELF ...

    • Posted On January 19, 2008 07:33:28 PM

      Good job butterjoy...now that you know how to fix it, I wan't to see at least a 1 pound loss out of you :) Read More

  • If I ever need to perform CPR...


    • Posted On October 17, 2008 10:01:24 AM

      thats amazing. in my CPR class we were all lagging on rhythm. i absolutely love this article and hope soon everyone knows about it. ps, that last sentence made me lol. Read More

    • Posted On October 17, 2008 11:04:31 AM

      .... and then if they ever need to perform CPR... it should almost come natural. [quote="notinoz2007":1txvxe1b]ps, that last sentence made me lol. The article was cool anyway, but that... Read More

  • BP & CPR

    ...TROL MY BP AND SO I WON'T END UP HAVING CPR, I NEED TO FOLLOW THESE RULES "DO NOT EAT THE FOLLOWING CARBS!": NO B-READ NO P-ASTA NO C-EREAL NO P-OTATOES NO R-ICE I AM GETTING MYSE...

    • Posted On January 19, 2008 04:39:28 PM

      Ooh, that's a great mnemonic device!! Thanks! Read More

  • Boy found buried in local park


    • Posted On May 22, 2009 06:03:56 PM

      ...ming. Then Toribio, 23, performed CPR. Her son, Tyrus, started breathing again. He was shaking. His eyes were rolled back. She suffocated him again, police said. She placed her hand ... Read More

    • Posted On May 22, 2009 06:50:37 PM

      [color=#FF0080:itelcad5]That is sad. Very sad. I have mixed feelings about the last few sentences where they mentioned the grandmother worked at a local daycare. I don't know why it was import... Read More

  • fitness instructors??


    • Posted On May 21, 2009 03:10:59 PM

      ...dley acepted certifcations. You must be CPR certified. Ideally, you need to find a current instructor to mentor you; so you know how to cue, listen and cue/teach on beat, set up routines, etc.... Read More

    • Posted On May 21, 2009 02:50:38 PM

      anyone been through this process? knows what it takes to become an instructor? i really want to go back to work. my son is now 3yrs old. and i feel more comfortable going back to work now. but at t... Read More

  • Cost of after school care?


    • Posted On September 30, 2008 11:11:17 AM

      ...from the state, first aid certified and cpr certified including infants is a big "selling" point. As well as a fenced yard, play equipment, some fun activities that are learning based ... Read More

    • Posted On September 29, 2008 04:42:02 PM

      Does anyone know how much it costs to keep a kid in an after school program at a public school or daycare? I pick up and watch two kids after school until their parents get home and I wanted to kno... Read More

Show More

CPR Blogs

CPR? I think not

Does the Daily News know what the abbreviation "CPR" stands for? Because their own story says that's not what happened... This reads more like "PR" instead.

Video Tuesday: CPR How-To, in Spanish

Here’s a great tool for people who are more comfortable learning in Spanish than in English: Hands-Only CPR. Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) isn’t difficult but many people are afraid to learn because they feel that they not be...

Children Perfectly Capable of Doing CPR

We don’t often hear about children learning how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but that doesn’t mean they can’t. After all, skills learned early are often retained in some sense. And, researchers found that this is true for...

Infant/Child CPR Instructional DVD

Every parent needs to know CPR and safe choking maneuvers. But it can hard to find the time to make it to a class when you are juggling a job, new baby, and other daily life stresses. Check out this instructional DVD for a full course on life saving...

Show More

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CPR Topic Guide

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Talk

dnurma: @bebikay iya nanti disalamin.. Jgn pingsan dooong! Minta CPR ya sama penjaga pantai. Hahaha!

AlbertineProust: L'hôpital de Bullion manque de jeux et jouets, pour enfants de tout age http://www.cpr-bullion.fr/

rlpbeats: いよいよです！ RT @CIRCULATIONS Today Warp 20, and tomorrow CIRC x CPR http://circulations.blog26.fc2.com/blog-entry-196.html

CollegeNewsLink: online training : Online CPR courses | Social Bookmarking Net... - http://bit.ly/jJYap - social-bookmarking.net via thisnewz.com

legitDUSTINWILL: @StephenHampton go give him cpr! Lol

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