Cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest is a term used to describe a collapsed casualty who is unconscious, unresponsive, not breathing normally (or at all) and not moving.

A sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and without warning. Not to be confused with a heart attack (which is caused by a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart) during a cardiac arrest the heart stops beating. The best way to increase the chance of saving sudden cardiac arrest casualties, outside of a hospital setting, is to follow every link in the chain of survival.

Signs and symptoms

  • Loss of consciousness

  • Little or no breathing

  • No pulse

First aid - Chain of survival

When to stop CPR - A first aider should continue cardiopulmonary resuscitation until:

  • The casualty responds or begins breathing normally

  • It is impossible to continue (e.g. exhaustion)

  • Someone else can take over CPR

  • A health care professional directs CPR to be ceased

Meirav Dulberg