What is the primary goal of performing high-quality CPR?

The primary goal of performing high-quality CPR is to maintain blood circulation. During cardiac arrest, the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, leading to a lack of oxygen-rich blood reaching vital organs, including the brain. By performing CPR, particularly through chest compressions, you create artificial circulation that helps deliver some blood to the heart and brain, maximizing the chances of survival until professional medical help arrives.

Maintaining blood circulation is critical because it helps keep the organs viable and increases the likelihood of a successful resuscitation. The focus is on providing adequate compressions at proper depth and rate, minimizing interruptions, and ensuring effective ventilations when performed.

Other options, while they may seem related, do not align with the primary objective as directly as maintaining circulation. Restoring normal breathing typically occurs after circulation has been reestablished and is more relevant to post-resuscitation care. Prolonging cardiac arrest contradicts the goal of CPR, which is to reverse the state of arrest. While reducing anxiety for bystanders is important for maintaining a calm environment during an emergency, it does not directly contribute to the physiological needs of the patient in cardiac arrest.