CPR is only a temporary measure. The aim is to get blood containing a fresh supply of oxygen to the brain. Therefore, it is necessary to breathe enough air into the patient’s lung, then compress the chest to cause the nonbeating heart to expel blood into the arteries. This produces circulation of the blood to the brain. Rarely, the patient may be revived, and the heart begins to beat spontaneously. In patients with ventricular fibrillation, death will occur unless the heart is defibrillated. The hope is that the ambulance has a portable defibrillator and a team that can defibrillate the patient.
A. How to Recognize Cardiac Arrest
First, the patient’s level of responsiveness must be deter¬mined. If the patient is unresponsive, he is unconscious and oblivious to shaking or commands. Second, determine if the patient is breathing. Within 30 seconds you should have arrived at a conclusion that a cardiac arrest has occurred. Speed of diagnosis is critical. Within three to four minutes of cardiac arrest, irreversible brain damage can occur because of lack of oxygen. The intention is to provide basic life support until advanced life support in the form of expert technical help arrives. When CPR is started within four minutes after collapse, the probability of survival doubles.

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