What is the primary goal of CPR?

The primary goal of CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is to maintain circulation and breathing for a victim experiencing cardiac arrest until professional emergency medical services can arrive. This involves providing artificial breaths and chest compressions to ensure that blood continues to circulate and oxygen reaches vital organs, particularly the brain. Maintaining circulation is crucial because brain cells can begin to die within minutes without oxygen, leading to permanent damage or death.

While the other options touch on various aspects of emergency response, they do not encapsulate the main goal of CPR. Reviving the victim immediately is often not feasible; instead, CPR buys time and sustains life until advanced medical help can intervene. Assessing injuries before rescue is important in a complete emergency response but not the focus of CPR itself. Preventing panic among bystanders may help create a more controlled environment, but it is not the primary reason for performing CPR. Therefore, maintaining breathing and circulation is the cornerstone of CPR practice, aligning with the intent to save a life.