what does cpr stand for

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency procedure used to save a persons life during cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs. CPR helps keep the blood circulating and delivers oxygen to the body until treatment from a medical professional is available. It can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. CPR involves rescue breathing and chest compressions to manually pump blood to a persons vital organs and breathing air into their lungs when their heartbeat or breathing has stopped. There are different types of CPR, including hands-only CPR, which is an easy-to-learn skill that involves giving continuous chest compressions. CPR certification can help prevent brain damage and death by keeping oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs.