What is the primary purpose of CPR?

The primary purpose of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is to keep oxygenated blood circulating to vital organs, especially the brain and heart, until emergency medical services (EMS) can take over. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating effectively, which means that blood is not being pumped throughout the body, leading to a lack of oxygen in the vital organs. Administering CPR helps to manually pump blood to these organs, helping to sustain life and minimize damage until professional help arrives.

The actions involved in CPR—such as chest compressions and rescue breaths—are crucial because they create artificial circulation and ventilation. This process is critical since brain cells can begin to die within minutes without oxygen, making the timely application of CPR vital for survival and recovery.

The other options, while related to emergency situations, do not capture the essence of CPR’s primary objective. For instance, reviving someone who has fainted or stopping someone from choking addresses specific scenarios that do not necessarily involve cardiac arrest or the need for maintaining blood flow. Additionally, while providing pain relief may be an aspect of overall patient care, it is not a primary function of CPR. Therefore, focusing on the circulation of oxygenated blood until professional medical help is