What kind of Steps should I take as a First Aid to Assist a Person who suffering from a Cardiac Arrest?

A cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack; there are vital differences. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating suddenly, usually due to an underlying heart disease. The victim becomes unresponsive and unconscious, with no signs of breathing or movement.The first 60 minutes are considered most critical and called the ‘Golden Hour’.

So what do you do when you see someone collapse?

First, check for any injury to the person due to the fall etc. Then, gently shake the unconscious person and try to get them talking. If you have tried and failed to get the person to respond, and you feel the person may be suffering cardiac arrest, here’s what you can do:

Call an Ambulance: Dial the emergency helpline number and tell the emergency services that someone has had a cardiac arrest.

Check Breathing: Check to see if the patient’s airway is open. Put two fingers under his/her chin and the other hand on the forehead. Tilt the chin up so the tongue is not blocking the airway. Check for breathing by watching the chest, nostrils and listening. If the person isn’t breathing or is only gasping, start with chest compressions and artificial ventilation so it can keep the brain functioning (CPR).

• Give CPR: Push hard and fast. Push down at least two inches at a rate of 100 to 120 pushes a minute in the center of the chest, allowing the chest to come back up to its normal position after each push.
• Use an AED: Use the automated external defibrillator as soon as it arrives. Turn it on and follow the prompts.
• Keep Pushing: Continue CPR until the person starts to breathe or move, or until someone with more advanced training takes over, such as an EMS team member.

Note: CPR should only be performed by a trained person.