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Britain's cardiac arrest emergency: could you save someone's life? Britain's cardiac arrest emergency: could you save someone's life?
(about 20 hours later)
Vinnie Jones is pretty good at getting his point across. Since the former footballer starred in a British Heart Foundation (BHF) campaign explaining how to help someone having a cardiac arrest, 28 people's lives have been saved by viewers who learned how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation by watching him. But as the second of the charity's adverts launches today, reports have highlighted that only one in five of those who suffer a cardiac arrest are given adequate care by members of the public.Vinnie Jones is pretty good at getting his point across. Since the former footballer starred in a British Heart Foundation (BHF) campaign explaining how to help someone having a cardiac arrest, 28 people's lives have been saved by viewers who learned how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation by watching him. But as the second of the charity's adverts launches today, reports have highlighted that only one in five of those who suffer a cardiac arrest are given adequate care by members of the public.
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. But if a bystander who knows how to administer CPR is nearby, the person's chance of survival is doubled, says the BHF. Yet too few people know the technique. Reading this on mobile? Click here to view.
/>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. But if a bystander who knows how to administer CPR is nearby, the person's chance of survival is doubled, says the BHF. Yet too few people know the technique.
The charity wants such life-saving skills to be part of the national curriculum, and says just two hours of lessons a year could save lives. In areas where schoolchildren are taught CPR, such as the US city of Seattle, or Stavanger in Norway, 52% of people who undergo a shockable cardiac arrest in front of witnesses will survive.The charity wants such life-saving skills to be part of the national curriculum, and says just two hours of lessons a year could save lives. In areas where schoolchildren are taught CPR, such as the US city of Seattle, or Stavanger in Norway, 52% of people who undergo a shockable cardiac arrest in front of witnesses will survive.
Many people who have had no first-aid training worry about giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stranger, so the charity suggests sticking to "hands only" CPR if you are worried about this. "Rescue breaths", as mouth to mouth is known, are important, but chest compression is the most important part of CPR and there has been some research that suggests if you stop doing chest compressions to administer rescue breaths incorrectly it does more harm than good. Other people worry about breaking ribs by pushing too hard but the charity points out broken bones are a small price to pay for someone's life.Many people who have had no first-aid training worry about giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stranger, so the charity suggests sticking to "hands only" CPR if you are worried about this. "Rescue breaths", as mouth to mouth is known, are important, but chest compression is the most important part of CPR and there has been some research that suggests if you stop doing chest compressions to administer rescue breaths incorrectly it does more harm than good. Other people worry about breaking ribs by pushing too hard but the charity points out broken bones are a small price to pay for someone's life.
So what should you do if someone collapses in front of you with a cardiac arrest?So what should you do if someone collapses in front of you with a cardiac arrest?
1 First, call an ambulance.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.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.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.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.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.6 Repeat this until the ambulance arrives.
• For more information see bhf.org.uk• For more information see bhf.org.uk