Resuscitation in the Home Setting*
Cardiac Arrest can happen anywhere, but you are most likely to be at home. If you find someone collapsed follow these steps:
1. Shout for nearby help.
2. Always check for danger before approaching the person. Shout at them, and gently shake or firmly tap their shoulders to check for a response.
3. Check their breathing looking for the rise and fall of their chest. Place your ear near the face of the person. Look , feel and listen for no more than 10 seconds. Look for chest movement, feel for air on your cheek and listen for the sound of breathing.
If they aren’t breathing or not breathing normally call 999, if you have help get them to call 999.
If you are on your own put your mobile on speaker. The Emergency call handler will talk you through how to do CPR and tell you if there is an External Defibrillator or AED nearby
4. Send someone to fetch it but don’t leave the person if you are on your own.
5. If you suspect the person has COVID then place a cloth over the person’s mouth and nose before starting compressions.
Place your hands on the centre of the chest and begin pushing hard. Aim for 2 beats per second give 30 chest compressions. Then open the persons airway using head tilt and chin lift , pinch the nose and deliver 2 breaths, allow air to exit before giving the next breath. Continue giving sets of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until someone can take over from you , you are exhausted , the AED has arrived or the call handler tells you to.
If the AED arrives, this can give an electrical shock to help restart the heart.
It will talk you through the whole process so listen carefully to the instructions.
Continue CPR until the person shows signs of life, the AED advises another shock or until the paramedic takes over.
Make sure you know where the nearest AED is where you live. (LIST FOLLOWS)
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The defibrillator/AED is very easy to use.
Call 999 and give them a location code which should be written on the AED cover. You can then input the code and remove the AED. The emergency code handler will stay on the line to assist you.
There should be scissors and a razor in the AED case. The electrodes have to be placed on the patients skin. For speed cut the clothing and if the person has a hairy chest shave the area and place the electrode pads on the skin. There are instructions on the pads as to where they should be placed. The AED will give you spoken and visual instructions to follow.
These machines are very easy to use and save lives. It will not deliver a shock to the patient if it is not required.
