Why Every Minute Counts: The Science Behind Early CPR

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second matters. Brain cells begin dying within 4–6 minutes without oxygen, and survival rates drop rapidly with each passing minute. That’s why early CPR—administered immediately after collapse—can mean the difference between life and death.

What Happens During Cardiac Arrest

• Blood stops circulating effectively.

• Oxygen can’t reach vital organs, especially the brain.

• Permanent brain damage can start in minutes, and death can follow quickly if no one acts.

How CPR Saves Lives

• Keeps oxygenated blood moving to the brain and heart.

• Buys critical time until professional help arrives.

• Increases survival chances by 2–3 times when performed immediately.

Timing is Everything

• 0–4 minutes: Brain cells begin to die. CPR can keep them alive.

• 4–10 minutes: Brain damage risk rises sharply.

• 10+ minutes: Survival without neurological damage becomes unlikely without immediate defibrillation.

Why Hands-On Training Matters

Online videos are useful, but real-life practice ensures you know how hard and fast to push, how to position your hands, and how to operate an AED effectively.