What is the purpose of performing CPR?

The primary purpose of performing CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is to increase circulation and restore breathing in a person who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped beating. When an individual experiences cardiac arrest, their heart is unable to pump blood, which leads to a cessation of oxygen flow to vital organs, including the brain. By performing CPR, which involves chest compressions and rescue breaths (if trained), you can help maintain vital blood flow and oxygenation until professional medical help arrives.

This action is crucial because every minute that passes without effective CPR decreases the chance of survival and can lead to serious brain damage or death. The goal during CPR is to mimic the heart's pumping action, thus maintaining blood flow to the brain and other vital organs until more advanced medical interventions can be implemented, such as defibrillation.

While other options may seem relevant in various contexts of emergency care, they do not capture the immediate and life-saving intent of CPR, which is to keep blood circulating and oxygen available in the body during a life-threatening emergency.