CPR is short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Understanding CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique used when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. It involves manually pumping blood to the vital organs and breathing air into the lungs, maintaining blood and oxygen flow until professional medical help arrives. CPR is crucial during cardiac arrest, a condition where the heart stops beating effectively or stops altogether. Without CPR, the brain and other vital organs are deprived of oxygen, leading to irreversible damage.
Several organizations, including the American Heart Association (https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/what-is-cpr), the Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/what-is-cpr), and Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cpr/basics/art-20056600), provide information on CPR techniques and training. Learning CPR is a valuable skill that can help save lives.
- Purpose: To restore breathing and circulation.
- Application: Used when breathing or heartbeat stops.
- Key actions: Chest compressions and rescue breaths.
While "CPR" commonly refers to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it's important to note that the abbreviation might have other meanings in different contexts, as evidenced by examples like "CPR Invest" found in the provided references. However, in the context of emergency medicine and first aid, CPR unequivocally means cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
