Chances of survival are doubled if help is provided within four minutes
CPR Basics
During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, depriving the brain and heart of oxygen and nutrients. Chest compressions help to manually pump blood through the body, providing some circulation until more advanced medical intervention can be administered. It is important to minimize interruptions in chest compressions; the more effective the chest compressions, the more blood flow is produced. Chest compressions that are too shallow or too slow or chest compressions that are interrupted frequently do not deliver as much blood flow to the brain. Every time chest compressions are restarted following an interruption, the first few compressions are not as effective as later compressions. Frequent or prolonged interruptions in chest compressions decrease blood flow to the brain and heart, reducing the chance of survival.
CPR may not save the victim even when performed properly, but if started within 4 minutes of cardiac arrest and defibrillation is provided within 10 minutes, a person has a 40% chance of survival.
CPR provides a trickle of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart and keeps these organs alive. In other words, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) serves as an artificial heartbeat and an artificial respirator until defibrillation can shock the heart into a normal rhythm or emergency equipment arrives.
Remember the CAB's of CPR: Compression, Airway and Breathing