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1. Why is the heart so important?

All the cells in your body require oxygen to survive. The cells also require a sufficient supply of nutrients. Waste products must be removed from the cells at a rapid rate. Oxygen and nutrients are carried around the body in your blood, which is pumped by your heart.

Oxygen enters your blood stream through the lungs. Waste products such as Carbon Dioxide are eliminated through a process called Gas Exchange. Without a beating heart pumping blood through out our body we develop rapid cell damage.

2. What happens during cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart is no longer beating. There are several causes of cardiac arrest, such as:

• Anaphylaxis
• Disturbance in the heart rhythm
• Drugs/poisoning
• Heart disease/Heart attack
• Traumatic injury/blood loss

When Cardiac arrest occurs, the body does not have circulating blood providing oxygen to the cells. During Cardiac Arrest the lack of flowing blooding caring oxygen causing the body's cells to die. Brain cells are very sensitive, after 4 to 5 minutes of no oxygen the brain cells begin dying leading to brain damage and death.

3. What is the purpose of CPR?

The purpose of CPR is for the rescuer to do the job of the heart by pumping on the victims chest. By pumping on the victims chest the rescuer helps circulate oxygenated blood throughout the body helping keep body cells alive. Use automated external defibrillator (AED) if available in a CPR situation if available.

Defibrillators administer a controlled electric shock that allow restoration of a normal rhythm. Devices such as AED will tell you when defibrillation is needed. Early recognition, effective CPR and Defibrillation increase the chance of return of spontaneous circulation in the heart. This means that the heart has began beating again.