A person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest is significantly higher if a bystander calls 1122 (EMS) and does CPR to save a life.
Did you know that most bystander-witnessed cardiac arrests occur in the home, on a sidewalk or at some other venue where no AED is nearby, or known to be. In that moment, though, there’s still an opportunity for someone to take action that could help save a life.

The first thing to do is establish whether the person who’s fallen is arousable. Shake them; if you can’t arouse them, call 1122 (EMS) right away. And if the person is also not breathing normally, start CPR. On the other hand, if they’re awake and complaining of chest discomfort, that also requires a 1122 (EMS) call, but not CPR.

During cardiac arrest, the normal heartbeat is interrupted by a dangerous rhythm that halts circulation. Chest compressions may not get the person’s heart beating again, but they buy time until medical responders arrive. And until professional help arrives, doing chest compressions alone is sufficient CPR if you are not trained CPR practitioner.

Chest compressions take advantage of the chest as a pump. Immediately after a collapse there’s still oxygen and blood in the chest, in the lungs, and in the heart. When you press on the chest, you’re pushing that blood out into the brain and other vital organs. And what you are doing, multiple studies have shown, is forestalling death until other treatments, like a life-saving shock can be delivered.

With chest compressions alone, you’re going to double or triple the odds of that person surviving the event. If you’re just doing chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, even if the person has something infectious, you’re not going to contract that. Second, doing CPR is not harmful.  The chance of significant injury is minimal. If the person wakes up and didn’t actually need CPR, they will just push you away.

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Even if you don’t do CPR perfectly, you’re giving that patient an opportunity for a life they might otherwise never have so don’e be a bystander, BE A LIFESAVER!