Cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat that disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs, and other organs. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States. Hands-Only CPR is a simple but effective technique to maintain blood flow when someone’s heart stops beating. Unlike conventional CPR, Hands-Only CPR focuses on compressions and excludes artificial respirations otherwise known as rescue breathing or mouth-to-mouth. Hands-Only CPR can be performed by anyone, and can double or triple the chance of survival for a victim of cardiac arrest. Just two simple steps can help save a life!
If an adult suddenly collapses:
1) Call 911
2) Push hard and fast against the center of the chest.