Verified By May 29, 2020
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’.
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).
Note: CPR should only be performed by a trained person.