Cardiac arrest: every minute counts

Learn how you could help save a life

Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood around your body. The blood is full of oxygen, which is needed by every cell in your body.

A sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating, usually because of an electrical problem in the heart. This means that your brain and vital organs are starved of oxygen. You become unconscious and can’t breathe normally, or stop breathing altogether.

Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) can improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest. CPR helps blood move around the body so that oxygen is delivered to the organs to minimise damage. An AED delivers an electrical shock to the heart to help restore its normal rhythm.

Signs of a cardiac arrest

A cardiac arrest happens suddenly and rapidly. It often occurs with no warning. A person in cardiac arrest will:

• collapse and fall to the ground
• lose consciousness and become non-responsive (be unresponsive to talk or touch)
• not be breathing or not be breathing normally.

How can you help someone in cardiac arrest?

Every minute counts when a person is in cardiac arrest. A person can survive a cardiac arrest if they get immediate help. If you see someone in this situation, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. The operator can talk you through what to do. Don’t worry if you feel unsure – any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt.

Remember to follow three steps:

• Call – Call Triple Zero (000). Ask for an ambulance.
• Push – Start CPR. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest.
• Shock – Use an AED to provide rapid defibrillation. Anyone can use an AED; the device gives voice instructions to tell you what to do.

What is the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack?

It's important to understand that a cardiac arrest and a heart attack are not the same.

A heart attack occurs when the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart is blocked. This blockage can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle. Warning signs of a heart attack include:

• chest discomfort or pain (angina). This can feel like uncomfortable pressure, aching, numbness, squeezing, fullness or pain in your chest. This discomfort can spread to your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back. It can last for several minutes or come and go
• dizziness, light-headedness, feeling faint or feeling anxious
• nausea, indigestion, vomiting
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing – with or without chest discomfort
• sweating or a cold sweat.

Urgent medical attention is needed to minimise damage to the heart during a heart attack. If untreated, a heart attack can lead to a cardiac arrest. If you suspect someone is having a heart attack, call Triple Zero (000) immediately and follow the operator’s instructions

Know the warning signs of heart attack.