What Is CPR? How Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Can Save a Life

Updated September 2026 to reflect current American Heart Association CPR guidelines.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency lifesaving procedure used when a person’s heart stops beating effectively.

CPR uses chest compressions, and in many situations rescue breaths, to help keep oxygenated blood moving to the brain and other vital organs until the heart can be restarted or emergency medical care takes over.

It is one of the most important lifesaving skills a person can learn.

What Happens During Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively.

A person in cardiac arrest will typically:

• Suddenly become unresponsive

• Not breathe normally

• Have no normal signs of circulation

Occasional gasping can occur during cardiac arrest and should not be mistaken for normal breathing.

For a lay rescuer, the American Heart Association recommends assuming an unresponsive adult who is not breathing normally or is only gasping is in cardiac arrest. CPR should begin quickly while emergency medical services are activated.

This is different from a heart attack.

A heart attack usually occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle becomes blocked. During a heart attack, the heart is generally still beating.

Cardiac arrest is an electrical and pumping emergency in which the heart can no longer circulate blood effectively.

A heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest, but the two conditions are not the same.

How Does CPR Help?

When the heart stops, oxygen-rich blood is no longer being pumped normally to the brain and other organs.

Chest compressions act as a temporary mechanical pump.

By repeatedly pressing down on the chest and allowing it to recoil, a rescuer can create a limited amount of blood flow while waiting for an AED and emergency medical treatment.

CPR does not usually “restart” the heart by itself.

Instead, CPR helps buy critical time by maintaining some circulation until the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest can be treated.

The American Heart Association identifies high-quality CPR and prompt defibrillation as key interventions for improving survival from adult cardiac arrest.

What Does an AED Do?

An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a device that analyzes the heart’s electrical rhythm and determines whether an electrical shock is needed.

Some cardiac arrests are caused by abnormal electrical rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation, or VF, in which the heart’s electrical activity becomes chaotic and the heart cannot pump blood effectively.

An AED may be able to shock certain abnormal rhythms and allow the heart’s electrical system an opportunity to return to an effective rhythm.

Not every cardiac arrest requires a shock. The AED determines whether a shock is appropriate and gives the rescuer instructions.

That is why rescuers should:

Start CPR and get an AED as quickly as possible.

When the AED arrives, turn it on and follow its prompts while keeping interruptions in CPR as short as possible.

What Is Hands-Only CPR?

An untrained bystander who witnesses a teen or adult suddenly collapse can provide Hands-Only CPR.

It has two basic steps:

1. Call 911.
2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

For an adult, chest compressions should generally be performed at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute and to a depth of at least 2 inches, while allowing the chest to fully recoil between compressions.

Hands-Only CPR makes it easier for someone without formal training to take immediate action rather than doing nothing because they are unsure about rescue breaths.

Do You Still Give Rescue Breaths During CPR?

Yes.

Hands-Only CPR does not mean rescue breathing is no longer part of CPR.

Trained rescuers may perform conventional CPR using both chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Breaths can be especially important when cardiac arrest is caused by a breathing problem rather than primarily by a heart problem. This can occur in situations such as:

• Drowning

• Opioid overdose

• Respiratory arrest

• Many pediatric emergencies

The 2025 American Heart Association guidelines continue to recognize both compressions and ventilation as important components of resuscitation depending on the circumstances.

This is one of the advantages of formal CPR training: you learn more than simply where to place your hands.

Why Is Starting CPR Quickly So Important?

Every minute without circulation means the brain and other organs are going without the normal delivery of oxygen.

Approximately 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States each year, and about 90% of those cardiac arrests are fatal.

But immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

The person who makes the difference may not be a doctor, nurse, paramedic, or EMT.

It may be a coworker.

A family member.

A teacher.

A coach.

Or a stranger who happened to be nearby and knew what to do.

What Should You Do If Someone Suddenly Collapses?

If an adult suddenly becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally:

1. Make sure the scene is safe.

2. Check for responsiveness.

3. Call 911 or have someone else call.

4. Send someone to get an AED if one is available.

5. Begin CPR with chest compressions.

6. Use the AED as soon as it arrives and follow its instructions.

7. Continue CPR until the person begins moving or breathing normally, or trained emergency personnel take over.

Current AHA guidance emphasizes early recognition, rapid activation of emergency response, high-quality CPR, and early AED use.

Can Anyone Learn CPR?

Yes.

You do not need to work in healthcare to learn CPR.

CPR and AED training is valuable for:

• Parents and grandparents

• Teachers and childcare providers

• Coaches

• Workplace employees

• Construction and industrial workers

• Fitness professionals

• Church and community volunteers

• Healthcare professionals

• Dental professionals

• Students

• Anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency

Even children can learn lifesaving skills. The 2025 AHA guidelines note evidence that children age 12 and older can be taught effective CPR and defibrillation.

CPR Training Builds Confidence to Act

Watching a CPR video or reading about CPR is helpful.

Actually practicing it is different.

Hands-on training allows you to feel how much pressure is required for effective chest compressions, practice using an AED, learn proper hand placement, work on rescue breathing, and receive feedback from an instructor.

Those repetitions matter because cardiac arrest rarely gives you advance warning.

When an emergency happens, you want your response to feel familiar rather than completely new.

Learn CPR With In-Pulse CPR

In-Pulse CPR provides hands-on American Heart Association CPR, BLS, AED, and First Aid training for individuals, healthcare professionals, businesses, and organizations.

We currently provide public and group training throughout Minnesota, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Our training includes courses such as:

• BLS for Healthcare Providers

• Heartsaver® CPR & AED

• CPR and First Aid

• Pediatric CPR and First Aid

• HeartCode® BLS Skills Sessions

• Workplace and group CPR training

View Upcoming CPR Classes Near You

Learning CPR takes only a small investment of time.

Being prepared when someone suddenly collapses can make that investment priceless.

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Updated September 2026: This article has been substantially revised to reflect the 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, including current information about recognizing cardiac arrest, chest compressions, Hands-Only CPR, rescue breathing, AED use, and the importance of early bystander action.

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