Cardiac Arrest

Sudden Cardiac Arrest affects over 30,000 people each year in the UK claiming approximately 250 lives with a survival rate of around around 5%. This is totally different to a heart attack. Cardiac arrest happens when the heart stops pumping blood around the body and as a result the patient becomes unconscious and will not be breathing normally. The most common cause is a life threatening abnormal heart rhythm. Other causes include the loss of a large amount of blood, lack of oxygen, the body being very hot or cold, choking, or a blood clot in the lung or coronary arteries (heart attack).

It can affect both old and young so immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation is is needed to have any chance of survival. Every second counts as the chances of survival decrease by 10% for every minute that passes.

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency and a person's chance of survival can be increased by telephoning 999 and giving immediate CPR.

Community First Responders are trained in the use of, and carry, an Automated External Defibrillator and aim to arrive on scene within 8 minutes of the 999 call being made.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Unless someone starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) the person may suffer permanent damage to the brain and other organs.

CPR means: chest compressions (pumping the heart by external cardiac massage), to keep the circulation going until the ambulance arrives.