cpr

Everyday

1. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation: first aid for someone whose heart has stopped and who is not breathing, done by pushing hard and fast on the middle of their chest, sometimes with rescue breaths. tree →
2. It is said as three letters: «C-P-R». tree →

In the lessons

In safety and health lessons pupils learn that CPR can keep blood moving to the brain until an ambulance arrives. Children learn: check for danger, call for help (999 in the UK and Ireland, 911 in the USA and Canada, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand), then start chest compressions if trained. Phrases: «do CPR», «give CPR», «perform CPR», «learn CPR», «CPR training». A defibrillator (AED) is often used with CPR.

Examples

• The lifeguard gave him CPR until the ambulance came. tree →
• We learned CPR on a dummy at school. tree →
• Push hard and fast in the middle of the chest when you do CPR. tree →
• Call for help before you start CPR. tree →
• Dad took a CPR course at work. tree →
• CPR helped save the footballer's life. tree →
• The song «Stayin' Alive» has about the right beat for CPR. tree →

Note

Always written in capitals: CPR (here in lower case only as a dictionary headword). Uncountable: «give CPR», not «a CPR». Myth from films: CPR does not usually wake someone up straight away; it keeps them alive until doctors and a defibrillator can help. Pupils should get proper training; in an emergency, calling for adult help comes first. About 100–120 compressions a minute is the advised speed.