The primary purpose of chest compressions during CPR is to maintain blood flow to vital organs, particularly the brain and heart, by manually pumping the heart to circulate oxygenated blood until a normal heartbeat can be restored. This helps delay tissue death and extends the window for successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage
. Chest compressions achieve this by creating a pressure gradient that forces blood through the arteries, supplying oxygen to the organs despite the heart not beating effectively on its own
. High-quality compressions—performed at a depth of about 5 to 6 cm and a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute—are crucial to maximize blood circulation during cardiac arrest
. In summary, chest compressions sustain vital blood circulation during cardiac arrest to preserve brain and heart function until advanced treatments like defibrillation can restore a spontaneous heartbeat
