Cardiac massage and the rest of the body, and other circulation questions.?

[verticalsmurf]

I recently completed a senior first aid course and did the training in CPR. An Indonesian friend mentioned to me that, if someone passes out, the first thing they will do is vigorously massage the limbs and body. I understand that it's the electronic signals between the brain and the heart that make the heart pump, but is there something to keeping the circulation going around the rest of the body that could make CPR more effective? Are we missing something by purely focusing on the heart and lungs?
Also, every now and then there will be a meningitis outbreak which will be mentioned on the news and they will report on how a young child had to have limbs amputated because of infection. Again, I've always wondered, if the blood flow was kept moving around the body, could that help or would it cause the kidneys and other organs to shut down?