What is CPR?  CPR is an acronym for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.  “Cardio” refers to the heart, “pulmonary” refers to the lungs, and resuscitation means “the action or process of reviving someone from unconsciousness or apparent death”.

When someone’s heart stops beating, they will stop circulating blood to their brain and breathing will eventually stop as well.  Conversely, if someone stops breathing (and bringing oxygen, one of our body’s essential fuel sources, into their body), soon after, their organs, including the heart, will stop working and shut down completely.  If these things happen, we have procedures we can perform to make up for those basic life-sustaining physiological functions.  When these actions are performed efficiently, they can sustain a victim until defibrillation and additional advanced life support is available, or even reverse the cardiac arrest on their own.

In order to make up for a heart that has stopped beating, we can perform chest compressions, which are a physical motion meant to squeeze blood out of the heart to induce circulation through the body.  High quality chest compressions can mimic the action of a normal heartbeat.  When someone has stopped breathing, we can through various forms breathe oxygen into then, either via mouth-to-mouth, or using barrier devices.

The basic steps to perform CPR are simple and easy to remember.  If you would like to learn how to perform lifesaving skills, please consider taking a CPR and First Aid class.  These skills can be taught in a short, practice-focused course that only takes a few hours.  

About Vive CPR

Vive CPR offers first aid and CPR classes for individuals and businesses of all types in the San Francisco Bay Area, either in our classroom or at your home or office location. We also offer ACLS, BLS, Bloodborne Pathogens, Infant CPR for Parents, and more!  Learn more about our classes here. We look forward to training with you soon.