Only half of Brits are confident they can perform CPR
Only half of UK adults are confident that they can give the kiss of life to a loved one in cardiac arrest.
Over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year and eight out of ten occur at home.
However, only 51 per cent said they could perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if needed, according to a survey by the British Heart Foundation.
Over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year and eight out of ten occur at home.
The survey of more than 4,000 adults revealed that one-third of people (33 percent) have never learned the life-saving procedure.
Of them, almost half (47 percent) said it was because they didn’t know where to learn, while almost a quarter (24 percent) said they weren’t confident enough.
Cardiac arrests are when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood throughout the body, starving the brain of oxygen.
Less than one in ten people survive, often because those close to them do not have the skills or confidence to intervene.
When someone performs CPR, chest compressions mimic how the heart pumps, helping to maintain blood flow throughout the body.
Defibrillation and defibrillation (using a machine to shock the heart at a healthy rate) have been shown to more than double the chances of survival.
Experts from the British Heart Foundation said it “might be the most important lesson you’ll ever learn” as the charity’s digital CPR training tool on its website takes just 15 minutes to learn.
RevivR teaches people how to recognize cardiac arrest, provides feedback on chest compressions, and outlines the correct steps for using a defibrillator, giving anyone the confidence to assist in the ultimate medical emergency.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Every second counts when someone is in cardiac arrest, and knowing CPR could be the difference between life and death.”
“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time: it can be your partner, your mother, your father or your child.
‘Our survey shows that many of us have not yet learned CPR and would not have the confidence to intervene if the worst were to happen.
‘It only takes 15 minutes to learn with RevivR – that’s a coffee break, football halftime, or time you could spend browsing social media. I urge you to do it today as it could be the most important lesson you ever learned.
How is CPR done? Here is the ultimate guide, designed by experts.
Everyone knows to call 999 if someone is unconscious and not breathing properly, yet exactly how to perform a life-saving skill before ambulance crews arrive remains a mystery to millions.
Cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood throughout the body, is the most extreme medical emergency. Victims can die within minutes without any treatment.
But CPR, when someone gives chest compressions to a person in cardiac arrest, can keep patients alive until paramedics arrive.
Here MailOnline shares the British Heart Foundation’s step-by-step guide to giving CPR.
If the person is not breathing or is not breathing normally, call 999 and ask someone to find a defibrillator.
To begin chest compressions, kneel next to the victim and place the palm of one hand in the center of the victim’s chest. Place the other hand on top of the first and interlock the fingers.
Keeping your arms straight, use the palm of your hand to push down firmly between the sternum (about 2-2.5 inches) and release. Do this at a rate of 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute, about two per second.
Step 1
If an adult seems unconscious, shake them gently by the shoulders and ask aloud if they are okay.
Step 2
If the person is not breathing or is not breathing normally, have someone call 999 and ask someone to find a publicly accessible defibrillator (PAD).
Call 999 yourself if no one is around. Call handlers will instruct you on how to perform CPR.
Step 3
Start chest compressions.
Kneel next to the victim and place the palm of one hand in the center of the victim’s chest. Place the other hand on top of the first and interlock the fingers.
Keeping your arms straight, use the palm of your hand to push down firmly between the sternum (about 2-2.5 inches) and release.
Do this at a rate of 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute, about two per second.
Songs like Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, and Wannabe by the Spice Girls have 100 to 120 beats per minute, so doctors recommend thinking about these songs while performing CPR.
Stage 4
Continue performing chest compressions until 999 crews arrive on scene and take over, or the person begins to regain consciousness, coughing, opening their eyes, speaking, or breathing normally.
If someone is nearby, it can be done in turns.
step 5
If a defibrillator is found, turn it on and follow its instructions.
The machine will detect if a shock is needed. Some of the devices will give downloads without warning, while others will prompt if a download needs to be pushed to apply the download.
rescue breaths
While performing chest compressions, give rescue breaths if you feel comfortable doing so.
The British Heart Foundation says that non-mouth-to-mouth CPR is still very effective in keeping the heart pumping.
To give rescue breaths, gently tilt the person’s head back and lift the chin with two fingers.
Pinch his nose. Seal your mouth over theirs and blow hard for a second. Do this twice.
Then pump the chest for a count of 30 before giving another two rescue breaths.
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