Make a Splash with the 2025 Red Cross Lifeguard Practice Test – Dive into Success!

The primary purpose of using chest compressions in CPR is to maintain blood circulation to the vital organs, especially the brain and heart, during cardiac arrest. When the heart stops beating effectively, blood flow ceases, and organs begin to suffer from a lack of oxygen. Chest compressions help to create pressure in the chest cavity, which mimics the heart's pumping action, allowing blood to be forced out of the heart and circulate through the body. This is crucial for preserving brain function and increasing the chances of survival until advanced medical help arrives.

While other options focus on important aspects of CPR, they do not capture the primary objective. Clearing the airway is essential for ensuring effective ventilation during CPR, but it does not directly address blood circulation. Delivering oxygen to the lungs is a component of CPR but occurs after compressions have initiated blood flow. Stimulation of a response from the victim can be a result of CPR practices, but it is not the main purpose of chest compressions. Therefore, emphasizing blood circulation as the primary goal underscores the vital role that compressions play in CPR.