Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Recognizing sudden cardiac arrest
• Part 2 of 3: Basic Steps to Save the Victim's Life
• Part 3 of 3: Using an Automatic External Defibrillator
• Tips
• Warnings

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in people over 40 in many countries. Approximately the same number of people die in aggregate from Alzheimer's disease, injuries caused by firearms, breast and cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, HIV infection, fires, road accidents, prostate cancer and suicides. However, with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED), survival is increased by 38%. In this article, you will learn how to act in an emergency if someone has sudden cardiac arrest.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Recognizing sudden cardiac arrest

1. 1 Pay attention to the person who suddenly faints or collapses. A person who experiences a heart attack may pass out and fall to the ground without warning. Try to come to the rescue of the person who collapsed or fainted as soon as possible.
2. 2 Check your pulse. In a person with sudden cardiac arrest, the pulse cannot be determined. The best pulse is felt on the radial or carotid arteries.
   • To feel the pulse on the radial artery, you need to place two fingers on the wrist at the base of the thumb. Place your index and middle fingers on the affected person's wrist. If jerky vibrations are not detected, then there is no pulse.
   • To feel the pulse in the carotid artery, you need to place two fingers on your neck. The carotid arteries can be found below the jaw on the right and left of the neck. Find the pulse by sliding two fingers into the hollow area just below the thyroid cartilage ("Adam's apple").
3. 3 Pay attention to breathing. People with sudden cardiac arrest cannot breathe. Look, listen and feel whether a person is breathing or not. Pay attention to the movement of the chest to see if the body is receiving oxygen. Remember that every minute without oxygen can be critical and lead to permanent brain damage.
   • Place your palms on the patient's chest. If the person is breathing, you will definitely feel or see an upward or downward movement of the chest. Another option is to put your ear to the patient's mouth and listen to if the person is breathing.
4. 4 Determine if the person is conscious. With a sudden cardiac arrest, a person loses consciousness. In this case, if you ask a person something, he will not answer or give a sign that he heard you.
   • Emergency doctors use the Glasgow scale: “Can you hear me? Open your eyes! State your name! Squeeze my hand! "

Part 2 of 3: Basic Steps to Save the Victim's Life

1. 1 Ask someone to call an ambulance (103 or 112) or do it yourself if no one is around. This must be done first. A patient with sudden cardiac arrest needs immediate medical attention and transportation to the hospital so that he will have the best chance of survival. Call for help first, or make sure someone else has done it.
   • Don't just shout "Somebody call an ambulance!" Choose one of those around you, look him in the eyes and personally ask him to call 103 or 112. You can say something like: “You, a man in a red T-shirt! Call 103 or 112! "
2. 2 Try to find a defibrillator. AED can be found in some public places; ask others to find and bring a defibrillator to the patient. The AED analyzes the heart rhythm and, if necessary, produces an electrical impulse, and also gives instructions to help the patient.
3. 3 Assess breathing and pulse again. Quickly assess the unconscious person's pulse and breathing again. If there is no breath or pulse, start CPR.
   • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed by applying pressure to the area of ​​the heart to pump blood and by mouth-to-mouth breathing to oxygenate the cells. If there is no pulse and / or spontaneous breathing, CPR should be started immediately.
4. 4 Pose of the victim. The victim should lie face up. Turn the person face up because CPR requires chest pressure and mouth-to-mouth breathing.
   • Do not touch the victim unless you suspect head and / or neck injury. Doing so may result in paralysis or other serious complications. If possible, provide assistance without changing the position of the victim.
5. 5 Take the right position. Position yourself correctly before starting CPR. Place the base of the hand in the center of the ribcage, on the lower part of the sternum. Place the base of another brush on top of the first. Straighten your elbows so that your shoulders are above your hands.
6. 6 Start clicking (compression). After correct setting, you can start compressing. Pressing must be strong and fast. The depth of pressing on the chest should be 2.5–5 cm, after which it should be allowed to return to its previous position.
   • The rate of pressing should correspond to 100 compressions per minute.
7. 7 After 30 compressions, take two breaths. It is necessary to count the compressions in order to carry out two breaths. Before inhaling, tilt the victim's head back, put one hand on the forehead, and push the jaw forward with the other. When the victim's head is in the correct position, pinch his nose, put your lips to his lips and exhale. Take two breaths and control the lifting of the victim's chest. Each breath should last for at least 1 second.
   • After 30 compressions, 2 breaths should be carried out and then again 30 compressions. Repeat the cycle until help arrives or until the defibrillator appears.
   • If you don't know how to do CPR, you can skip the breathing step. Focus on correct chest compressions.
   • CPR is a tedious and difficult process (you can even break the victim's ribs). If you are tired of doing CPR, ask another person to replace you. CPR will be ineffective if you are very tired.
   • If a head or neck injury is likely, do not tilt the victim's head back, but instead just push their lower jaw forward so as not to aggravate the injury. Place your thumbs on the victim's cheekbones and press on the corners of the lower jaw with your fingers to pull it forward.

Part 3 of 3: Using an Automatic External Defibrillator

1. 1 What automatic external defibrillator (AED). Thanks to the internal electrical system, the heart contracts and pumps blood. Heartbeats have a constant rhythm. If this system is disturbed, the heart stops or continues to beat in an irregular rhythm. The AED is a mobile device that reads your heart rate and, if needed, can send an electrical shock to your heart to restore normal rhythm.
   • Use the AED immediately if available! If an AED is not available, continue CPR until an ambulance arrives.
   • AED is safe to use in pregnant women. The defibrillator will have no significant effect on the fetus.
   • The AED automatically analyzes your heart rate and determines if an electrical shock is needed. If a shock is needed, make sure no one is touching the victim. Before clicking on the "Discharge" button, shout to those around you: "All move away!"
2. 2 Find someone who knows how to use a defibrillator. The defibrillator will be more effective when used by someone who is trained to do so. Ask others if anyone knows how to use a defibrillator. Do not panic if there are none. The device provides instructions and voice prompts so that everyone can use it.
3. 3 Check for puddles and water around the victim. Water is a conductor of electricity, so using the AED in wet conditions is a bad idea. You or someone around you can get an electric shock. If the victim is lying in a puddle, move the victim to a dry place to use the AED.
4. 4 Turn on the AED and follow the prompts on the device. It is advisable to have experience using the AED, but thanks to the step-by-step instructions, anyone can handle the AED. You will hear voice prompts and / or see on-screen prompts. Follow the instructions carefully.
   • The emergency operator can also provide guidance on how to operate the device. If you cannot deal with the AED and there is no one around, call 103 or 112 and ask for help.
5. 5 Expose the victim's chest and attach the sensors. If the victim's chest is wet, dry it. AED sensors, or electrodes, have a sticky surface. Attach the transducers to the victim's chest as shown in the instructions or as directed by voice prompts.
   • Attach one electrode to the right of the sternum at nipple level.
   • Attach a second electrode just below the left nipple.
6. 6 Click the "Analysis" button on the AED. After that, the device will turn on to determine the patient's pulse. Make sure no one is touching the victim before pressing. Keep your distance and ask others to do the same while the machine analyzes the victim's heart rate.
7. 7 Click Discharge, if necessary. If a discharge is needed, the AED will let you know when to do it. Before pressing the "Shock" button, make sure that you do not touch the victim and that others are at a distance.
8. 8 Continue CPR after shock delivery. Continue CPR for 2 minutes after the AED has been shocked. Perform 30 compressions, then 2 breaths. After two minutes of CPR, check the carotid pulse. If there is no pulse, press the "Analysis" button on the AED to re-evaluate the heart rate, and if necessary, press the "Shock" button to repeat the shock.
   • Repeat this process until help arrives or a pulse appears.

Tips

• Don't worry about the victim's broken ribs while compressing. Broken ribs are less of a problem for someone who does not receive CPR on time.
• If you haven't learned how to perform CPR and don't know how to use an automated external defibrillator, study it now.

Warnings

• One of the main reasons why victims of sudden cardiac arrest do not survive is because bystanders are often afraid to perform CPR and use AEDs. To save lives, do not hesitate to intervene! Doing nothing is the worst mistake.