Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), is emergency first aid for an unconscious person on whom breathing and pulse cannot be detected.

Related Topics:
First aid - Unconscious - Breathing - Pulse

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The medical term for this condition is cardiac arrest or, if the patient still has a pulse, respiratory arrest (the combined term cardiorespiratory arrest is also used). The most common treatable cause of cardiac arrest outside of a hospital is a heart attack leading to a heart rhythm disturbance. CPR can be used for cardiac or respiratory arrest due to drowning, drug overdoses and poisoning, electrocution and any other conditions featuring similar symptoms.

Related Topics:
Cardiac arrest - Respiratory arrest - Heart attack - Rhythm disturbance - Drowning - Drug overdose - Poisoning - Electrocution

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Even when performed correctly, CPR can injure the person it is performed on. This is a normal occurrence, and one should realize that it is more important to keep a person's body tissues perfused with oxygen than to refrain from performing CPR out of fear of causing rib fractures or other minor damage. CPR is also never guaranteed to save someone's life. CPR should only be performed on a person in cardiac arrest (no signs of circulation) or on a CPR manikin. Those wishing to learn and perform CPR should take CPR training from a qualified instructor. Reading the Wikipedia is not a substitute for first aid training. Moreover, since the Wikipedia may be altered by anyone at any time, some parts of the article may be inaccurate.

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