How does CPR help an unresponsive victim who is not breathing?

When an unresponsive victim is not breathing, CPR is critical in maintaining blood circulation to vital organs, particularly the brain and heart. The technique involves performing chest compressions that manually create pressure within the chest cavity. This pressure forces blood out of the heart and into the arteries, allowing oxygenated blood to reach the brain and other organs even in the absence of a heartbeat. This is essential, as it can help prolong the victim's life until advanced medical help arrives, such as paramedics or an automated external defibrillator (AED) can be utilized.

While restoring a normal heart rhythm is a goal of resuscitation, CPR alone does not directly restore heart rhythm but helps maintain vital functions until corrective measures can be taken. Similarly, while CPR does support oxygen delivery to the brain, the primary mechanism is through maintaining blood flow rather than direct oxygen delivery, and the role of an AED is to provide an electric shock to restore a normal rhythm rather than being a direct function of CPR itself.