What is the main purpose of performing CPR?

The main purpose of performing CPR is to maintain blood circulation and oxygenation in a person who has suffered a cardiac arrest. When the heart stops beating effectively, it no longer pumps blood to the vital organs, particularly the brain and lungs, which can lead to irreversible damage and death within minutes.

CPR, which consists of chest compressions and rescue breaths, aims to artificially circulate blood and provide oxygen to the body until professional medical assistance can take over. The chest compressions help to create pressure in the chest cavity, which mimics the heart's pumping action, allowing blood to flow to the vital organs. This is critical because, during cardiac arrest, every minute without effective circulation significantly decreases the likelihood of a positive outcome.

While comfort and assistance with breathing are important aspects of patient care, they are secondary to the primary objective of maintaining circulation and oxygenation. Increasing heart rate is not a direct objective of CPR; rather, the focus is on restoring effective heart function. Thus, the answer highlights the essential goal of CPR in sustaining life until further medical help is available.