Cardiac arrest can be described as a sudden decrease or complete cessation of cardiac function. In other words, the heart stops beating or stops beating effectively and efficiently, and causes a decrease or complete loss of circulation, which then leads to decreased or arrested breathing. Cardiac arrest can, and often does lead to death because every minute that passes affects the eventual outcome for that person. However, there are several things a bystander can do, specifically three important steps that can be taken when someone has gone into cardiac arrest.
The first step is to begin administering CPR as quickly as possible. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and it is the artificial breathing for another person while simultaneously performing chest compressions to pump the heart manually. To begin administering CPR, roll the person onto their back. Next raise the chin and be sure their airway is clear. If the airway is blocked use a finger to swipe any obstruction from the back of the throat and be sure to pull the tongue forward as to ensure it does not become an obstruction. Then begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by manually blowing air into the affected person’s mouth and observing that the lungs inflate and the chest expands.
The second aspect to CPR is chest compression that is performed by placing two hands, one on top of the other, in the center of the person’s chest and pushing down swiftly and firmly for a succession of at least five compressions. This will manually force the heart to pump and therefore create an artificial form of circulation to ensure blood is flowing to the person’s lungs and brain. While someone is performing CPR it is best to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency response center, as well as obtain an automated external defibrillator, or AED. While CPR is helpful and useful, an AED has been proven capable of turning an irregular heartbeat into a normal beat.
The AED functions by delivering an electrical shock to the heart muscle. Recently AED machines have been manufactured in a compact version and can be found in most public settings. They are easy to use and all have instructions on how to properly administer treatment. An automated external defibrillator has computerized instructions that will give step by step instructions to the user once turned on, and also supplies diagrams to show exactly where to place the pads and if a shock is needed to restore normal heart function. The AED also does an automatic evaluation of the affected person’s heart rate in the form of an EKG, or an electrocardiogram. If a shock is needed to restore normal cardiac rhythm the machine will instruct the user on exactly what steps to take to administer a shock, and will then immediately continue with EKG tracking to determine the effectiveness of the shock. It is important to take these steps immediately when someone is in cardiac arrest as life or death outcomes can be determined within minutes of its onset.