Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It can be caused by various factors, including a heart attack, an electrical malfunction in the heart, or trauma to the chest. Cardiac arrest is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of cardiac arrest include loss of consciousness, no pulse or breathing, and sudden collapse. If someone experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to call 911 immediately and begin CPR if you are trained to do so.
CPR can restore circulation and breathing in someone who has suffered cardiac arrest. It involves pressing on the chest with both hands at regular intervals to pump blood through the body and mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths to supply oxygen to the lungs.
AED may also be used during CPR if available; this device sends an electric shock through the chest wall to restore normal heart rhythm.
Emergency response teams such as paramedics will arrive on the scene with advanced life support equipment such as ventilators and intravenous medications to further treat the patient’s condition and transport them to a hospital for further care.
It is important for everyone to be aware of cardiac arrest symptoms and know how to respond appropriately in case of an emergency situation. Knowing how to perform CPR correctly can help save lives.
While the AED is prepared for use, continue giving chest compressions and rescue breathing. When the AED is ready to analyze the heart rhythm, it will advise you to pause CPR and stand CLEAR. When the shock has been given, the defibrillator will let you know whether you need to continue performing CPR.
While the AED is prepared for use, continue giving chest compressions and rescue breathing. When the AED is ready to analyze the heart rhythm, it will advise you to pause CPR and stand CLEAR. When the shock has been given, the defibrillator will let you know whether you need to continue performing CPR.
If an unconscious adult victim is breathing, check the pulse for less than 10 seconds. If the victim has no pulse, perform CPR without giving rescue breaths. If the victim has a pulse, put him in a recovery position and monitor his condition until help arrives. Perform CPR if they lose breathing and pulse while waiting for EMS.
Perform hands-only CPR or compressions-only CPR immediately if no pulse is detected within 5-10 seconds. Giving rescue breath is unnecessary in this situation because the victim is still breathing.
To check if an adult victim is conscious, you can tap on their shoulder and ask, "Are you okay?" loudly. If they are unresponsive, call 911 immediately and assess the victim to see if he needs CPR.
