What You Should Do If Someone Collapses in Front of You with a Cardiac Arrest

AFRIK UPDATE

HEALTH


A cardiac arrest, when an electrical malfunction causes the heart to beat irregularly (as opposed to a heart attack, which is caused by a loss of blood flow through a blocked artery), can cause someone to fall unconscious and lose a pulse within seconds – and die in minutes if they don't receive treatment.

               
 
1. First, call an ambulance.                

2. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person's chest, then put your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.

3. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5cm–6cm on their chest. To get the right rhythm, the BHF suggests thinking of the beat of the Bee Gees song Stayin' Alive, or 100 chest compressions a minute.

4. If you want to add rescue breaths then give two breaths for over one second, every 30 compressions. To do this, tilt the person's head gently and lift the chin up with two fingers. Pinch the person's nose.

5. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth. Check that their chest rises.

6. Repeat this until the ambulance arrives.       







Illustrations: Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley