In CPR, which action helps maintain blood flow?

In CPR, which action helps maintain blood flow?

• A. Mouth-to-mouth breathing
• B. Checking for a pulse
• C. Calling emergency services
• D. Chest compressions

Answer: (D)

In CPR, keeping blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs is essential. Chest compressions act as an external heart, pumping blood through the circulation when the heart isn’t effectively beating. By pressing on the chest, you create enough pressure to push blood out of the heart and into the rest of the body, maintaining perfusion until the heart can resume its own rhythm or defibrillation/advanced help can take over. Mouth-to-mouth breathing helps with oxygen in the lungs but doesn’t directly sustain circulating blood flow. Checking for a pulse is part of assessing the person, not a treatment to maintain blood flow. Calling emergency services is crucial for getting help, but it doesn’t by itself keep blood moving through the body. Therefore, the action that maintains blood flow during CPR is chest compressions.

In CPR, keeping blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs is essential. Chest compressions act as an external heart, pumping blood through the circulation when the heart isn’t effectively beating. By pressing on the chest, you create enough pressure to push blood out of the heart and into the rest of the body, maintaining perfusion until the heart can resume its own rhythm or defibrillation/advanced help can take over.

Mouth-to-mouth breathing helps with oxygen in the lungs but doesn’t directly sustain circulating blood flow. Checking for a pulse is part of assessing the person, not a treatment to maintain blood flow. Calling emergency services is crucial for getting help, but it doesn’t by itself keep blood moving through the body. Therefore, the action that maintains blood flow during CPR is chest compressions.