Final answer:
CPR can be stopped once certain conditions are met such as the return of spontaneous circulation, signs of irreversible death, declaration of death by a qualified healthcare professional, rescuer exhaustion, or unsafe scene.
Step-by-step explanation:
The five reasons why it is okay to stop performing CPR once you have begun are:
- Return of spontaneous circulation (patient's heart begins beating on its own)
- Signs of irreversible death (such as decapitation or rigor mortis)
- Qualified healthcare professional declares the patient dead
- Rescuer becomes too physically exhausted to continue
- The scene becomes unsafe for the rescuer
It is important to note that unless one of these reasons occurs, CPR should be continued.