Cardiac arrest causes whole body ischaemic injury and cellular death. Successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can subsequently lead to a global reperfusion phenomenon with a paradoxically increased rate of cellular death. Interventions that decrease the ischaemia-reperfusion injury may be useful in the treatment of these patients. Remote ischaemic postconditioning with transient limb ischaemia is feasible in cardiac arrest patients. This article discusses the concept of ischaemic pre- and postconditioning and its potential use in patients during CPR and after return of a spontaneous circulation.