When should you perform CPR?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When performing CPR, you are literally pumping the heart to maintain blood flow and oxygenation of the muscles and organs in the body. You should immediately start chest compressions if the person is unresponsive. This could be due to cardiac arrest. When someone has a cardiac arrest, they do not have pulse, and are not breathing (or not breathing normally). For those who are not trained in CPR, our best advice is to push hard and fast in the middle of the chest until paramedics, or other help arrives.