What is the primary goal of CPR?

The primary goal of CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is to restore circulation. When a person's heart stops beating effectively, blood flow to vital organs, especially the brain and heart, is compromised. The primary function of CPR is to artificially maintain blood flow and oxygenation until advanced medical help can take over. Through chest compressions, CPR helps to manually pump blood through the heart and into vital organs, which is essential for preventing irreversible damage due to lack of oxygen.

While opening the airway and preventing brain injury are important considerations during CPR, they are secondary to the main goal of restoring circulation. The airway must be open to provide effective ventilation if rescue breaths are administered, and preventing brain injury is important to ensure long-term survival and recovery. However, the immediate aim is to initiate blood flow. Stabilizing the spine is relevant in certain situations, particularly in trauma cases, but it does not directly address the life-threatening issue of cardiac arrest that CPR seeks to manage.