What to do in the event of a Cardiac Arrest?
A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. Death or brain damage can occur within minutes. If you witness a cardiac arrest:
Follow these steps:
Check for a response – shake the person’s shoulders and ask loudly ‘can you hear me?’.
Shout for help – ask someone for an automated external defibrillator (AED). If you can’t find anyone to help, DO NOT DELAY – call 112 or 999 immediately put your phone on loudspeaker and follow the call-taker’s instructions before you start CPR.
Check for normal breathing – look, listen and feel for no more than 10 seconds and no less than 5 seconds.
If breathing is normal, put them on their side, tilting the head slightly upwards to open the airway and call 112 or 999, if you haven’t done already.
If breathing isn’t normal, protect their airway. Place one hand on the person’s forehead, gently tilt their head back, then lift their chin using two fingers of your other hand under their chin.
Start CPR:
Kneel next to the person.
Place the heel of one hand in the centre of their chest. Place your other hand on top of the first. Interlock your fingers.
With straight arms, use the heel of your hand to push the breastbone down between 5-6 cm firmly and smoothly.
Do this at a rate of 100-120 chest compressions per minute – that’s around 2 per second.
Continue CPR until a portable AED arrives.
Listen to AED prompts and follow the directions.
Do not panic medical personnel are on their way.