The core principle of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is to artificially maintain blood circulation and oxygenation to the brain and other vital organs when someone's heart has stopped beating, acting as a bridge until professional medical treatment is available.
Understanding the Core Principle
Based on established guidelines, the fundamental principle of CPR involves two primary actions working together:
- Chest Compressions: This is the priority component of CPR. Compressions manually squeeze the heart between the breastbone and the spine, forcing blood to pump out of the heart and circulate throughout the body.
- Rescue Breathing: This typically involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, providing oxygen to the lungs.
The principle articulated by the reference states that CPR combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialised treatment is available. It highlights that chest compressions are the priority in CPR.
The Temporary Nature
It's crucial to understand that CPR is a temporary measure. It doesn't typically restart the heart but keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain, preventing irreversible damage while awaiting definitive medical interventions like defibrillation or advanced medical care. The effectiveness relies on initiating this artificial circulation as quickly as possible after cardiac arrest.
Key Takeaway: The principle is about providing a temporary, manual substitute for the heart's pumping action and breathing, specifically focusing on maintaining blood flow to the brain, with compressions being the most critical part.
