What is the basic life support system used to ventilate the lungs and circulate blood during cardiac or respiratory arrest?

The basic life support system utilized to ventilate the lungs and circulate blood during instances of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This emergency procedure combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to maintain blood circulation and oxygenation until more advanced medical help can be provided. The chest compressions help to manually pump blood through the heart and vital organs, while rescue breaths provide the necessary oxygen to the lungs.

In contrast, first aid encompasses a broader range of emergency measures and does not specifically target cardiac or respiratory arrest. Defibrillation refers to the use of an electrical device to restart a heart that has entered a chaotic rhythm, but it is a specific intervention that follows CPR and is not a comprehensive support system by itself. The Heimlich maneuver is specifically designed to relieve choking by dislodging an obstruction from the airway and does not address cardiac or respiratory arrest scenarios. Therefore, CPR is the correct identification of the basic life support system in this context.