Which term describes a lifesaving procedure that maintains circulation and breathing?

• A. First aid
• B. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• C. Heimlich maneuver
• D. AED

Answer: (B)

Keeping the blood circulating and providing breaths during a life-threatening event is what cardiopulmonary resuscitation aims to do. When someone isn’t breathing or their heart isn’t pumping effectively, CPR combines chest compressions to mimic the heart’s pumping action with rescue breaths to deliver air and oxygen to the lungs. This continuous sequence helps preserve brain function and body tissues until the heart can resume beating or advanced care arrives. The other terms describe different concepts: first aid is general initial care before professional help, the Heimlich maneuver relieves choking but doesn’t sustain circulation and breathing, and an AED is a device that may restart the heart but isn’t the ongoing procedure to maintain circulation and breathing.