Final answer:
CPR's primary purpose is to maintain blood flow, especially to the brain, in someone whose heart has stopped. It involves chest compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute, mirroring the beat of "Staying Alive", and necessitates proper training to avoid causing harm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is to manually compress the heart and maintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs in a person whose heart has stopped beating. This emergency procedure is crucial as it aims to prevent irreversible brain damage and death by providing circulation until the heart can resume beating normally or further medical care can be administered. CPR technique involves applying pressure to the sternum, ideally between the lines at T4 and T9, to manually pump blood throughout the body. The recommended rate for chest compressions is at least 100 compressions per minute, which coincides with the beat of the song "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees. However, proper training in CPR is essential as it can cause injuries like broken ribs if performed incorrectly, and it should be noted that CPR is ineffective in the water and should only be conducted once the person is on stable ground.