Introduction to CPR

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency lifesaving technique used when a person’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. It combines firm chest compressions with rescue breaths, in some situations, to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until professional medical help arrives. CPR may be needed during cardiac arrest, drowning, choking after the airway is cleared, overdose, or other emergencies that cause a person to become unresponsive and stop breathing normally. If you believe someone needs CPR, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately, send someone for an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is available, and begin care. For most adults, hands-only CPR—hard, fast chest compressions in the center of the chest at a rate of about 100 to 120 compressions per minute—is recommended for bystanders who are not trained or unwilling to give rescue breaths. CPR is most effective when started quickly, and formal training can help people respond with greater confidence in an emergency.