What is the primary goal of using chest compressions during CPR?

The primary goal of using chest compressions during CPR is to maintain blood circulation. When a person goes into cardiac arrest, their heart stops pumping blood effectively, which deprives vital organs, including the brain, of oxygen. Chest compressions generate artificial circulation by compressing the chest and forcing blood to flow through the heart and into the rest of the body. This is crucial in preserving the function of vital organs until advanced medical help arrives or until a normal heart rhythm is restored.

While other aspects of CPR, such as delivering oxygen to the lungs and clearing the airway, are important components, they serve to complement the primary objective of ensuring that blood continues to circulate effectively. Stabilizing cardiac rhythm is also a goal but is not within the immediate scope of what chest compressions directly achieve; rather, it is hoped that compressions will support the heart's natural rhythm until defibrillation or advanced interventions can be applied.