Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. Chances of survival diminish rapidly and result in death within 10 minutes. Quick intervention is needed within the first few minutes.
Administering first aid treatment by means of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and an AED (automated external defibrillator) will give the victim the best chances of survival until medical emergency services arrive and take over.
Even if you have not been trained in CPR first aid, any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt.
What to do if someone is having a sudden cardiac arrest?
Every minute counts, literally. Waste no time.
- Call Triple Zero (000) to request an ambulance. The operator will help guide you over the phone.
- Start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
- Shock – use an AED. Have someone find an AED while you perform CPR. Anyone can use a defibrillator. AEDs will instruct you.
Continue CPR until the ambulance arrives. Follow the guide below on how to perform CPR on an adult, child or infant.
What is sudden cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is caused by an electrical malfunction in the heart muscle. The heart's normal pumping action is disrupted and blood circulation throughout the body fails. Oxygenated blood is suddenly unavailable to vital organs — in particular the heart and brain.
The heart’s sudden inability to pump blood around the body leads to cardiac arrest, causing the heart to stop completely.
The person in cardiac arrest will lose consciousness and stop breathing. Without chest compressions and the use of a defibrillator, they will not survive.
Cardiac arrest is not the same as heart attack.
A person experiencing a heart attack may feel chest pain, but they will usually be alert and breathing.
A worsening heart attack sometimes leads to cardiac arrest. There’s a good chance this can be prevented if first aid treatment is administered within 10 minutes of symptoms, to the person experiencing the heart attack.
What are the signs of sudden cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is closely linked with sudden chest pain.
It is unlikely that a sudden cardiac arrest will have any preceding telltale signs that one is looming.
A person in cardiac arrest will:
- collapse to the ground
- stop breathing or gasp for air
- lose consciousness & become unresponsive
- have no pulse
Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, at any time.
Most cardiac arrests that occur out of the hospital, occur in people’s homes.
Can you survive a sudden cardiac arrest?
More than 30,000 Australians a year suffer a cardiac arrest out of the hospital. Fewer than 10% will get to leave the hospital and go home.
Prompt first aid treatment dramatically improves the odds.
Proficient application of CPR/defibrillation is needed as soon as possible after the collapse in order to restart brain activity. If this is not done, life after a cardiac arrest will likely be impacted by brain damage.
After a cardiac arrest, doctors will try to determine its cause. This will allow them to prescribe appropriate treatment options to reduce the risk of further episodes.
Thanks to the quick action of a bystander calling 000, and starting chest compressions and defibrillation (AED), many cardiac arrest survivors go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute, replace, or qualify as any form of first aid training.
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