Skip to main content
Submitted by Dr S. Patel on 27 September 2017

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Quick and fast intervention helps. Dr. Shital Raval recommends first aid tips for cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating suddenly commonly due to some electrical malfunction. The victim becomes unresponsive, unconscious with no signs of breathing or movement. Death can occur within minutes as blood stops flowing to the lungs, brain and other organs. This can be reversed with prompt emergency intervention.

Cardiac arrest is the growing cause of fatality in young and old. The first 60 minutes are considered the most crucial and draw the line between life and death. That's why its also called the Golden Hour.

Remember:

Cardiac Arrest is not the same as a Heart Attack 

Cardiac Arrest is different from a Stroke

So if someone collapses in front of you, what do you do?

Here are some first-aid tips to aid the person till medical help can arrive on site:

  1. Check for danger to the person of any kind such as safety, hazards or injury due to the fall etc.
  2. Put the patient in a recovery position (see image below).

  3. Speak to them and see if they respond.
    • If they respond, it means they are alive
    • If there is little or no response, they are not conscious enough.
  4. Call emergency helpline number for medical help.
  5. Check to see if the airway is open. Put 2 fingers under the chin and other hand on the forehead; tilt the chin up so the tongue is not blocking the airway.

  6. Check for breathing by watching the chest, nostrils and listening.
    • If person is breathing, open the mouth to ensure easy breathing.
    • The lower limbs should be elevated during CPR, this is key to get blood to the brain and heart.

    • If person is not breathing, start CPR*. CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) should be 2 compressions per second followed by 2 breaths. Continue CPR till person becomes responsive or breathing returns.
  7. If there is a Defibrillator (AED) nearby, attach it and follow the voice instructions.

*If you don’t know CPR, please do not attempt it, wait for medical help.

If you want to learn about CPR and AED basics, check out CPR Saves Lives to learn more.

 

Stories

  • Can You Make Your Favourite Foods Healthier?
    You don't have to feel guilty digging into that pizza! Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju suggests ways of reducing calories of your favourite food like pizza and fried rice and making them wholesome and healthy. Check out the calorie counts! Wholesome Pizza Everyone loves pizza. But mind you…it can be a sinister source of calories and fats. Is there any way of giving it a nutritional upgrade, instead of ruthlessly banishing it as junk food? Yes definitely. You can make your pizza a whole lot…
  • Image shows a women holding a brush with clumps of hair during PCOS
    How Do I Deal With PCOS?
    Could Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) be the cause of your hair loss or excessive facial hair? If it isn't treated or the underlying causes not addressed, over time it can lead to infertility, diabetes and heart disease. Obstetrician & gynaecologist Dr. Chandan Dubey advises on the key treatments for PCOS: What is the first line of treatment for most PCOS patients? PCOS is characterised by and diagnosed when two of the following 3 features are seen in a woman: Menstrual cycles coming at…
  • Heart Friendly and Diabetes Friendly Healthy and Tasty Recipes
    Are you looking for recipes that are heart friendly, reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular risk and are diabetes friendly? Have you got tired eating the same bland diet that you have been put on? Did you think that healthy foods cannot be tasty?  You liked our previous book on weight loss and are looking for more nutritious recipes?  Download our healthy cookbook prepared in conjunction with our panelled dietitians by clicking here or on the image below. If you are already…
  • Keeping Faith
    Mdm Zainon's life took an unexpected turn after a hit and run accident in Malaysia. She is now on daily peritoneal dialysis and her faith keeps her going through the difficult phases. Read on here:   We all imagine that when the time comes we age gracefully and naturally, surrounded by the warm and smiling faces of our children and grandchildren. We envision that life would be simpler, slower – better. So what do you do when you are aged and forced to accept that you are now a feeble…
  • Blood Clot Risk and What You Can Do
    This World Thrombosis Day, Dr Manohar B Kalbande, Cardio vascular & thoracic surgeon warns that diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and sedentary lifestyle increase risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and recommends early diagnosis, complete treatment and regular follow up to get give good relief from this disease. What is Thrombosis? Blood returning to the heart i.e. venous blood is drained by two sets of veins in our body- superficial and deep. The deep veins are located deep in the…
  • A man clutching his heart having a heart attack
    Stents or Bypass Surgery – Which Works Better?
    Heart diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Of these, about half the patients will undergo coronary angioplasty procedure at some time. Patients are then often faced with the choice of having a stent put in via angioplasty or going through a bypass surgery. So how do you make an informed decision with your doctor? Here are a few pertinent questions and answers by Dr. Shital Raval regarding the Stent vs Bypass dilemma. These options should also be discussed with your doctor or…
  • Lucky to Escape Heart Attack Trauma
    WORLD HEART DAY To raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases, Mr. KC Patel, 75, shares his experience. Despite a fairly active lifestyle for most of his life, he was referred for emergency quadruple coronary artery by-pass (CABG) surgery for 90% blockage and considers himself lucky to have got the right treatment at the right time to escape the trauma of having a heart attack.   Please tell us a bit about yourself  I have been very active sports wise and work wise both at the…
  • Image of dumbbells, muesli bowl and measuring tape and text healthy approach to weight loss
    11 Tips On How To Reduce Weight
    Obesity or being overweight is the causative factor for several chronic non-communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancers #tbl tr td:nth-child(0) { { width:44px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(1) { { width:141px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(2) { { width:77px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(3) { { width:44px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(4) { { width:141px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(5) { { width:77px!important; } A dramatic increase in…
  • Diet Modifications for the Elderly
    When your loved ones age, it becomes vital to address the right diet for them, because more often than not, improper food intake causes a lot of stress and discomfort. Dr Bhuvaneswari puts together some simple tips from her experiences as a primary caregiver for her parents. Changing the diet patterns for the elderly in the Indian context needs a proper looking into as it addresses a few common problems that the elderly tend to face : 1.  Loss of teeth:  This naturally takes away the…
  • I Breathe And Sleep Better After I Quit Smoking
    Ramesh Koppikar, a heavy smoker for 35 years, made several unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking. It finally took a heart attack for him to break the nicotine addiction and kick the habit for good. Read and share his experience. I started smoking cigarettes at the age of 23 when I was studying engineering at BHU, Varanasi. I was staying in the hostel on campus and my friends and I would go for a walk after dinner. The BHU campus is large and green, hence our walks would be…