6. The Vital Connection: Artificial Respiration and CPR

Artificial respiration (rescue breaths) and chest compressions are the two core components of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). They are combined because they perform two distinct but equally critical functions to keep a person alive.

Rescue breaths supply fresh oxygen to the lungs. However, if the heart has stopped, that oxygen has no way to reach the brain or other organs. Chest compressions manually pump the heart, circulating that oxygenated blood throughout the body. When both breathing and heartbeat have stopped, one technique is far less effective without the other. Rescue breaths provide the fuel (oxygen), and chest compressions provide the delivery system (blood flow). For this reason, the standard CPR cycle for an unresponsive person without a pulse is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.