Artificial respiration is a term used to describe the process of providing oxygen to a person who is unable to breathe on their own. There are several synonyms for artificial respiration, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, rescue breathing, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). These terms describe the same essential process of providing oxygen to a person whose breathing has stopped or slowed dramatically, usually due to a cardiac arrest or other medical emergency. Regardless of the term used, the goal is to provide oxygen to the body and brain to maintain vital functions until medical personnel can take over.