What Does CPR Stand For and How to Remember it
Every two years we get students come to our class and one of the first question we ask them is, do you know what CPR stand for. They normally tell us they have been certified multiple times, but they rarely even know the acronym CPR actually stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation.
These are big words that the average person who usually only speaks 400 words, rarely use. For this reason we have attempted to simplify things. Instead of thinking CPR, we suggest you think HLB or ( Heart, Lungs, Brain ).
You are pretty much speaking of the same thing, only saying it easier and in words you use on a daily basis and in words the average person can understand. Sure Doctors with over 10 years of medical training on a high level know what these words mean, but we teach and train many care givers, child care workers, and security guards that don’t need the extra burden of trying to remember long words in the time of an emergency where someone life is on the line.
Lets break it down further:
C in CPR stands for Cardiovascular System –Which consists of your heart, various blood vessels, and even the blood itself.
P in CPR stands for Pulmonary or Respiratory System which consists of your lungs bringing in oxygen and dispelling of carbon dioxide.
R in CPR stands for Resuscitation, which in this case is referring to the fact that through continuous compressions on the heart and oxygen being put into the lungs this can flow oxygenated blood into the brain to
- Sustain the brain without occurring further damage on the level it would have without CPR.
- It could bring the brain back to life ( Revive the brain )
- It could at least give the person a last chance to see if CPR would have worked or not
In Conclusion if you want an easy way to actually remember the meaning of CPR just think HLB or
Heart / Lungs / Brain
These simple three words permeate throughout the entire 3 hour class, from trying to determine if the person needs CPR or not and even when trying to understand why the person needs CPR in the first place. CPR can be very interesting, if taught in words you can understand. Call us at 310-946-2533 to take a free CPR training class today!!
