In first aid, what does the abbreviation CPR stand for?

In first aid, CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

CPR is an emergency procedure used when a person is in cardiac arrest, meaning the heart is no longer pumping blood effectively. Chest compressions press the sternum to create artificial circulation; conventional CPR also includes rescue breaths to provide ventilation. The aim is to preserve brain and organ function until normal circulation can be restored.

Modern CPR emerged from two developments: external chest compression research associated with William Kouwenhoven, James Jude, and Guy Knickerbocker, and mouth-to-mouth ventilation work associated with Peter Safar, James Elam, and colleagues. Their combined findings were presented in September 1960.

Hands-only CPR is commonly taught to untrained bystanders responding to an adult who suddenly collapses. It uses continuous chest compressions, while standard CPR remains especially important when respiratory failure caused the arrest, such as in drowning or many pediatric emergencies.