Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is an emergency life-saving procedure designed to help victims of heart failure or cardiac arrest.   This involves artificial breathing which helps circulate oxygen in the victim’s body, accompanied by sporadic chest compressions.  When a person suffers a cardiac arrest or a heart failure and his heart stops beating, circulation of blood to his brain is interrupted, which is why the victim loses consciousness.  Instant attention for the victim may result in his brain being damaged permanently, or at times, death.  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a very effective method to artificially restart air circulation and help the heart pump blood to the brain.

    CPR is to be performed on persons who have lost consciousness and do not have a pulse.  Performing Cardiopulmonary resuscitation involves a series of steps that are to be followed.  We should make sure that the victim’s airway is open and not constricted.  This is to help allow the flow of air to the victim’s lungs.  And before beginning CPR, we should absolutely make sure that the victim is not conscious or breathing.  If he is, then CPR should not be performed.  When we are absolutely sure that the victim is unconsciousness, then we need to prepare for artificial breathing for the victim.  After we have made sure that the victim’s airway is not blocked or constricted, the procedure is to shut the nose of the victim with two fingers so that no air escapes, lock mouths with the victim and breathe into him slowly.  Now, we should see signs of his chest rising and falling because of the circulating air to his lungs.  If the victim’s chest does not rise and fall, it means that something is obstructing his respiratory tract.

    The second stage in CPR involves intermittent compressions of the chest to support even air flow in the victim’s body.  It is done by position your right hand on the breastbone, placing the other hand over it and compressing the chest for a period of 10 seconds.  It is imperative to perform artificial breathing in between two stages of compressions.  If the victim is a child, make sure not to apply too much pressure on the chest while performing compressions.  CPR is a revival technique that should not be performed without proper training.  And moreover, the success rates of this technique is often exaggerated in the movie media.