cardiopulmonary resuscitation

noun

1. emergency procedure for reviving heart and lung function, involving special physical techniques and often the use of electrical and mechanical equipment. : CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

noun

1. an emergency measure to revive a patient whose heart has stopped beating, in which compressions applied with the hands to the patient's chest are alternated with mouth-to-mouth respiration CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

1. See CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

1. An emergency lifesaving procedure used to revive someone who has stopped breathing or whose heart has ceased functioning. CPR uses heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to get the heart or lungs working again. More recently, electric stimulation to the heart (using devices called defibrillators) has greatly increased the efficacy of this technique.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cardiopulmonary resuscitation¹

First recorded in 1970–75