CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure for cardiacarrest, when the heart literally stops beating.It consists of chest compressions and rescue breaths and is intended tomaintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and the heart, extendingthe chance for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage.Basically, it mimics natural blood circulation and breathing.

Here's something that may be of interest about the procedure:

Differences in CPR for Lay Rescuers and Healthcare ProvidersDifferences between lay rescuer and healthcare provider CPR skillsinclude the following:Lay rescuers should immediately begin cycles of chest compressions andventilations after delivering 2 rescue breaths for an unresponsivevictim. Lay rescuers are not taught to assess for pulse or signs ofcirculation for an unresponsive victim.Lay rescuers will not be taught to provide rescue breathing without chestcompressions.The lone healthcare provider should alter the sequence of rescue responsebased on the most likely etiology of the victim’s problem.— For sudden, collapse in victims of all ages, the lone healthcareprovider should telephone the emergency response number and get an AED(when readily available) and then return to the victim to begin CPR anduse the AED.— For unresponsive victims of all ages with likely asphyxial arrest (eg,drowning) the lone healthcare provider should deliver about 5 cycles(about 2 minutes) of CPR before leaving the victim to telephone theemergency response number and get the AED. The rescuer should then returnto the victim, begin the steps of CPR, and use the AED.After delivery of 2 rescue breaths, healthcare providers should attemptto feel a pulse in the unresponsive, nonbreathing victim for no more than10 seconds. If the provider does not definitely feel a pulse within 10seconds, the provider should begin cycles of chest compressions andventilations.Healthcare providers will be taught to deliver rescue breaths withoutchest compressions for the victim with respiratory arrest and a perfusingrhythm (ie, pulses). Rescue breaths without chest compressions should bedelivered at a rate of about 10 to 12 breaths per minute for the adultand a rate of about 12 to 20 breaths per minute for the infant and child.Healthcare providers should deliver cycles of compressions andventilations during CPR when there is no advanced airway (eg,endotracheal tube, laryngeal mask airway [LMA], or esophageal-trachealcombitube [Combitube]) in place. Once an advanced airway is in place forinfant, child, or adult victims, 2 rescuers no longer deliver "cycles" ofcompressions interrupted with pauses for ventilation. Instead, thecompressing rescuer should deliver 100 compressions per minutecontinuously, without pauses for ventilation. The rescuer delivering theventilations should give 8 to 10 breaths per minute and should be carefulto avoid delivering an excessive number of ventilations. The 2 rescuersshould change compressor and ventilator roles approximately every 2minutes to prevent compressor fatigue and deterioration in quality andrate of chest compressions. When multiple rescuers are present, theyshould rotate the compressor role about every 2 minutes. The switchshould be accomplished as quickly as possible (ideally in less than 5seconds) to minimize interruptions in chest compressions.According to the American Heart association, beginners are not expectedto know how to check for the pulse of the victim.

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