Help save a life from sudden cardiac arrest by following this guidance...

sudden cardiac arrest – Summary of key points…

Check for responsiveness and breathing.
Call emergency services.
Start chest compressions immediately.
Apply an AED as soon as possible to allow analysis and guidance – your AED will advise if a shock is required.
Continue until professional help arrives.

1. Assess the situation quickly for sudden cardiac arrest indicators

First, check for responsiveness: Do your best to check if the person is responding. Shake the person and shout for a response.
Then check for breathing: Look, listen and feel for normal breathing (gasping or irregular breathing does not count).
Call for help from a professional: If the person is unresponsive and not breathing or breathing abnormally, it’s likely sudden cardiac arrest.

2. Call the Emergency Services - explain you have a potential sudden cardiac arrest

Dial 999: Call your local emergency number immediately (e.g., 911 in the U.S., 999 in the UK, etc.).
Put the call on handsfree: If you are alone, use your phone speaker so you have your hands free and can begin CPR immediately.
Most importantly, provide information: Tell the operator your location and describe the condition of the person and that you think they are suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest .

3. Start CPR Immediately

Place hands: Position the heel of one hand in the center of the chest (on the lower half of the sternum), with the other hand on top, interlocking your fingers.
Compressions: Push hard and fast, compressing the chest at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute. Furthermore, allow the chest to fully rise between compressions.
Breaths (if trained and you feel confident to do so): After every 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths.

4. Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

If you have access to a CellAED, continue with the following steps...

Open your CellAED: Use the ‘pull’ tab to open the device packaging.
SNAP PEEL STICK:
SNAP: Power the device by snapping in half along the perforated centre line. This will automatically start the audio instructions guiding you on what to do.
PEEL: Remove the protective liner under the device by continuing to separate the two halves. This will expose the integrated gel pads and extend the connecting cable.
STICK: For adults, place each half of the device on the bare chest. For infants, place one half on the infant’s chest and the other half on the back.

Let the AED analyse: The AED will check the heart rhythm and instruct whether a shock is needed.
Deliver a shock: If CellAED advises a shock, it will clearly state and repeat ‘shock advised’, ‘stand back from patient’. CellAED will shock automatically if the person requires it.

If you do not have access to a CellAED, locate a public access AED as soon as possible, then continue with the following steps...

Find the AED: Ask if anyone nearby knows where an AED is located and how to access it .
Turn on the AED: Follow the instructions from the device audio.
Attach the pads: Place one pad on the upper right side of the chest and the other on the lower left side.
Let the AED analyse: The AED will check the heart rhythm and instruct whether a shock is needed.
Deliver a shock: If the AED advises a shock, ensure no one is touching the patient and press the shock button (if you have an automated AED this shock will be provided automatically).

Further information on the concerns with AEDs being stored in locked cabinets: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266652042400242X

5. Continue CPR

Do not stop CPR unless:

The person starts breathing or moving normally.
Emergency services take over.
Your AED tells you to stop for analysis or a shock.

6. Monitor and Support

Continue to monitor the person’s breathing and condition until help arrives.
If the person regains consciousness, place them in the recovery position (on their side) to keep their airway open and clear.
Handover to the emergency services. In addition, inform them of the actions you took (CPR, AED use, etc.).
Allow them to take over the situation.

Speed is absolutely critical in sudden cardiac arrest situations. In fact, the earlier CPR and defibrillation are administered, the better the chances of survival.

Every minute without an AED present lowers the chance of survival by 10%.
Having a personal AED like CellAED can save valuable time during a stressful and often panicked situation.

CellAED is available in the UK from UK authorised resellers CorMed-DX:

This video shows a Cardiac Arrest event and demonstrates the use of a CellAED...

Want to learn more about CellAED?
Click the link below to find out why the world’s first personal AED, CellAED, was created: