{"id":18546,"date":"2021-01-06T04:50:54","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T04:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cprcare.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=18546"},"modified":"2026-02-10T11:09:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T11:09:19","slug":"what-does-cpr-do","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/blog\/what-does-cpr-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does CPR Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is one of the most important life-saving procedures that you can learn. When a victim undergoes cardiac arrest or their heart stops beating due to another type of medical emergency, the combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths can be the difference between life and death. Since there are over <\/span>325,000 adult cardiac arrest deaths<\/span><\/a> in the United States each year, equipping as many people as possible with this skill has never been more important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is why learning how to perform CPR and earning your CPR certification has become so popular (and critically important) in recent years. Following a cardiac arrest episode, bystanders can play an important role in ensuring the victim\u2019s survival during the critical minutes before professional medical help arrives. Performing CPR makes a difference. For every minute that passes when a victim doesn\u2019t receive this procedure, their survival rate drops by roughly 7 to 10 percent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the <\/span>American CPR Care Association<\/span><\/a>, we work hard to ensure that people from all different backgrounds have access to the skills and knowledge that can save lives. This commitment to saving lives is our core value and guides us as we provide comprehensive, student-centered, and 100 percent online CPR certification and recertification courses. Our entire catalog of certification courses, including CPR, CPR\/AED, and First Aid courses, make it possible for any individual to learn these important, life-saving skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this blog, we take a closer look at CPR and what this life-saving procedure actually does for the victim\u2019s body. We then discuss how to earn your CPR certification 100 percent online and look at the key benefits of choosing this method of learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WHY VICTIMS NEED CPR <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the Mayo Clinic, <\/span>sudden cardiac arrest<\/span><\/a> is defined as an abrupt loss of consciousness, breathing, and heart function. Cardiac arrest is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart that leads to an irregular heartbeat (also known as arrhythmia). This malfunction can stop the heart and prevent it from pumping blood throughout the body. When this occurs, oxygen cannot reach the brain and other vital organs. Within just a few minutes, this lack of oxygen can lead to irreparable damage or even death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT DOES CPR DO?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Once a victim stops breathing and becomes unresponsive, what does CPR do and how does it help the victim survive? To understand this medical procedure, it\u2019s helpful to examine some of the key steps to see how CPR impacts the victim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After calling 911, you should first position the victim on their back and open their airway. This can be done by tilting the head back and carefully lifting their chin. Opening the victim\u2019s airway ensures that oxygen can reach their lungs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once their airway is open, check for breathing. If you cannot detect a steady breath, begins the steps of CPR<\/a>: chest compressions and rescue breaths. Chest compressions essentially replicate the beating motion of the heart to help move blood to the arteries and veins. Rescue breaths then provide oxygen directly to the victim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT DOES AN AED DO?<\/span><\/h2>\n

In addition to performing CPR, AEDs (automated external defibrillators) can also increase the chance of the victims’ survival. An AED is a small medical device designed to reset the victim\u2019s heartbeat. Once attached to the victim\u2019s chest, the AED uses sensors to look for an irregular heart rhythm. If detected, the device emits a small electrical pulse that effectively stops the heart momentarily and allows it to reset itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WHEN SHOULD I PERFORM CPR?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Without <\/span>CPR certification<\/span><\/a>, many bystanders hesitate to perform CPR because they\u2019re not sure if this is the right course of action. With so many different types of medical emergencies, how can you be sure that CPR will be the most effective procedure? And what if CPR causes more harm than good? To help determine whether or not you should perform CPR on a victim, here are some common signs to look for:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n