Find out more about the four steps

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1 #careforaheart Find out more about the four steps Learn first aid. Help save lives. Be the difference. sja.org.uk/care

2 Thousands of families feel the impact of cardiac arrest each year, but if more people knew what to do before an emergency, more lives could be saved. This guide contains all you need to know to be prepared to act quickly, should you ever be faced with a sudden cardiac arrest. By following the four simple steps of C.A.R.E., those you love will have the best chance of survival, because in that moment, every second counts. C.A.R.E is the easiest way to save a loved one s heart. Judith s story A cardiac arrest can happen at anytime, anywhere. Judith was out at the theatre just before Christmas when she got to her seat, took off her coat and then collapsed with no warning. Luckily for her, St John Ambulance volunteer Kristian Keyte, also enjoying an evening out, was in the audience and sitting nearby. He rushed quickly to her aid, identified she was in cardiac arrest and immediately started CPR. Craig (pictured with Judith), one of the two St John Ambulance volunteers on duty that evening, swiftly joined Kristian with the theatre s defibrillator, which delivered a single life saving shock to Judith s heart. By the time the ambulance arrived, I was conscious and talking. If I hadn t gone to the theatre that evening and I d have been at home when I had a cardiac arrest, I don t know what would ve happened. These three volunteers saved my life. ONE MINUTE I WAS TALKING TO MY DAUGHTER, THE NEXT MOMENT I WAS OUT COLD. SHE TERRIFIED. WAS Judith Mansfield 2

3 C CLOSEST DEFIBRILLATOR Find your closest defibrillator in advance WHAT IS C.A.R.E.? If you come across someone in cardiac arrest, you have to act fast. You can give them the best chance to live if you ve learnt in advance what to do. Follow the four simple steps of C.A.R.E. now, to make sure in that moment every second counts. Don t forget you can watch the videos for each step on our website sja.org.uk/care A R E the ARREST? Be ready to spot the signs of cardiac arrest RESUSCITATE Know how to resuscitate using CPR EARLY DEFIBRILLATION Early defibrillation gives best chance of survival 3

4 CLOSEST DEFIBRILLATOR Find your closest defibrillator in advance A defibrillator, also known as an AED (automated external defibrillator), is a life saving device that can give your heart an electric shock when it has stopped in a cardiac arrest. You can use them on children over one year old and adults. By using a defibrillator within three to five minutes of an arrest, you can increase someone s chance of survival by up to 70%. 1 FIND YOUR CLOSEST DEFIBRILLATOR Do you know where your closest defibrillator is? There isn t yet a national database and online maps aren t always accurate. So look out for the defibrillator that s closest to your work, your home and the home of your loved ones. How s that for peace of mind? WHERE TO LOOK Many public places keep a defibrillator as part of their first aid equipment, but they can vary from place to place. You may find them on the walls, or in the reception of supermarkets, village halls, schools, gyms, old phone boxes, pubs, GP surgeries or at railway stations. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Defibrillators can be different sizes or colours. They can be in a cabinet or just in a plastic case. But they often have a green sign above or nearby where they are stored, showing a white heart with a lightning bolt. AWAY FROM FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS If you come across an emergency and don t know where the closest defibrillator is, call 999 or 112. Tell them you suspect a cardiac arrest and ask where the closest defibrillator is. You may need to receive an access code from the emergency operator over the phone to access some cabinets. If you can t find a defibrillator close by, why not fundraise for one in your community. Contact donatefordefibs@sja.org.uk to find out more. 1. Source: European Resuscitation Council. 4

5 ARREST? Be ready to spot the signs of cardiac arrest Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating altogether, so it s vital you are ready to act by being able to spot the signs of cardiac arrest quickly to give your loved one s the best chance of survival. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR They are unresponsive They are not breathing normally They show no movement or signs of life. If someone has become unresponsive and they are not breathing normally, they could be in cardiac arrest and you need to act quickly: call 999 or 112 for emergency help and start CPR, using a defibrillator if available. A cardiac arrest is different to a heart attack. Someone suffering from a heart attack may have a shortness of breath, crushing pain in the centre of their chest and perhaps nausea, but they will be awake. They do still need help, so call 999 or 112 immediately, sit them down in a comfortable position and if you have one, give them an aspirin to chew. Find out more information on the signs of a heart attack. RESUSCITATE Know how to resuscitate using CPR CPR is a simple skill, but it can have an incredible impact. Effective CPR more than doubles the chance of someone surviving a cardiac arrest. 2 WHAT IS CPR? CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to give a person the The advice opposite is for how to give CPR to an adult. You can find out more about CPR for children and babies here. best chance of survival following a cardiac arrest. If an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you need to call 999 or 112 for emergency help and start CPR straight away. 2. Source: Resuscitation Council HOW TO GIVE CPR TO AN ADULT 1. CALL 999/112 FOR EMERGENCY HELP Ask if a defibrillator is nearby If you are on your own, use the hands-free speaker so you can start CPR, do not leave the casualty to look for a defibrillator yourself, as the ambulance will bring one If there is someone with you, ask them to find and bring a defibrillator if available 2. GIVE 30 CHEST COMPRESSIONS At a rate of per minute The beat of the song Staying Alive can help you keep the right rate 3. GIVE 2 RESCUE BREATHS If unable or unwilling, just give chest compressions 4. REPEAT Continue to give 30 compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives (30:2). 5

6 EARLY DEFIBRILLATION Early defibrillation gives the best chance of survival Anyone can use a defibrillator so you don t need to worry about getting it wrong. The machine analyses the casualty s heart rhythm and will give you visual or voice instructions to guide you through each step. HOW TO USE A DEFIBRILLATOR 1. CALL 999/112 FOR EMERGENCY HELP Do not leave the casualty to look for a defibrillator Do CPR until the defibrillator is ready to use 2. SWITCH ON THE DEFIBRILLATOR Remove or cut through any clothing. Wipe away any sweat from the chest 3. APPLY THE PADS 4. FOLLOW THE VOICE PROMPTS GIVEN BY THE DEFIBRILLATOR 5. CONTINUE DOING CPR BETWEEN EACH SHOCK Stand back when the shock is advised 6. IF THEY BECOME RESPONSIVE Put them in the recovery position Leave the defibrillator pads attached Monitor level of response Want to get up close with how to use a defibrillator. Watch our detailed video on how to use one. 6

7 READY TO C.A.R.E. Use these sheets to complete each step of C.A.R.E. C.A.R.E. Cut this out, write where your closest defibrillator is and stick it to your fridge. MY CLOSEST DEFIBRILLATOR IS LOCATED AT C.A.R.E. Find the symptoms of a cardiac arrest and a heart attack in the word search below: N O S I G N S O F L I F E A C X Y U I T S S A D G H O K N M C P U I A B E F L A E R U E A S F G N H J K C H E S T P A I N O L I S O I A E S A U I O R I V D H N A I H E F M P M N A F P A S U S I M X U A B Y E B K S A L N A O P L N D E S S E L H T A E R B M A V I P A N W E Z N O R I U I E W A U N X N P I E O Y S O A V B N A A Z U A I T N N O M O V E M E N T H C O A B M L S N S H J H A S P L Q W U Y U I C A I J D S S H A J Z C M U I N W I E I N A S G H J B V G O U R R E S P O N S I V E S D N J A P U N B A B N P I F U CARDIAC ARREST Unresponsive Abnormal breathing No movement No signs of life HEART ATTACK Responsive Breathless Chest pain Nausea 7

8 C.A.R.E. Cut this out and keep it in your purse or wallet. C.A.R.E. Which of these is the odd one out? HOW TO GIVE CPR TO AN ADULT 1. CALL 999/112 FOR EMERGENCY HELP Do not leave them Use a defibrillator if available 2. GIVE 30 CHEST COMPRESSIONS At a rate of per minute 3. GIVE 2 RESCUE BREATHS If unable, or unwilling just give chest compressions 4. REPEAT Continue to give 30 compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives (30:2). Alexa Sat Nav Defibrillator Iron Answer: Iron. All the others you switch on and they give you voiced instructions. A defibrillator once switched on, will give you voice or visual prompts to follow so you don t need to worry about getting it wrong. 8

9 #careforaheart A LITTLE C.A.R.E. GOES A LONG WAY Test your knowledge Have a go at our C.A.R.E. quiz and test your knowledge now at sja.org.uk/care Share with a loved one Now you ve read the details, make sure your loved ones know how to C.A.R.E. for your heart too. Share the four steps of C.A.R.E. from our website at sja.org.uk/care St John Ambulance 2017 I 27 St John s Lane, London EC1M 4BU I Registered charity no /1 I BC