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CPR/Defibrillator first aid for cardiac arrest

laura_dropstitch profile image
laura_dropstitchHeart Star
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youtube.com/watch?v=L2z5bjr...

This BBC Three video popped up in my Twitter feed this morning (courtesy of BHF) and I thought some of you might be interested in it. It's a really good public information film, I think, showing what to do if you are present when someone has a cardiac arrest - such vital information for all of us to have! I did try to embed the video here, but couldn't get it to work, so you'll just need to click the link if you want to watch/share it.

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laura_dropstitch
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15 Replies
laura_dropstitch profile image
laura_dropstitchHeart Star

Oh, looks like the video did work! Yay!

Mirador19 profile image
Mirador19

What a great video to make people more aware and take the fear out of helping someone.

Joan x

Prada47 profile image
Prada47

Thanks Laura good link

Best Regards

Mary_Janet profile image
Mary_Janet

So relevant for my family. Normally it is me posting about my cardiac issues but yesterday my husband collapsed and had a cardiac arrest at the train station . We are so lucky that two passersby came to his aid and the station had a defib which was used to good effect. Mary

laura_dropstitch profile image
laura_dropstitchHeart Star in reply toMary_Janet

Oh, Mary! So sorry to hear about your husband but amazing that someone was able to help. Really makes you realise how important it is to educate everybody in CPR and have defibrillators close to hand. Hope your husband makes a good recovery and best wishes to you and your family xxx

kefalonia1 profile image
kefalonia1 in reply toMary_Janet

How wonderful that people saved your Husband!!! lt must have been such a shock for you especially when dealing with your own issues. l'm sure you will have many long years together, its not your time or your Husbands, yet. Take care Sue x

Chappychap profile image
Chappychap

Thanks very much for posting, a lot there that I didn't know before.

That was a startling statistic, 90-95% of heart attacks will be fatal unless someone intervenes and does something. Wow!

Irishwolfhound profile image
Irishwolfhound

My local housing scheme is trying to get a defibrillator for the local area in a scheme of 1000 houses, and there are ones at the local Tesco and train station, thinks it’s a must for all areas, thanks for sharing the video!

Karenpr profile image
Karenpr

This brought back so many memories. We were told only 5% of out of hospital CAs survive with no major problems after my husband had a roadside CA.

laura_dropstitch profile image
laura_dropstitchHeart Star in reply toKarenpr

Hope the video didn't upset you. It is a terrifying statistic, isn't it? But so important too. Lots of love xx

Karenpr profile image
Karenpr in reply tolaura_dropstitch

It is a terrifying stat and many people don’t understand the difference between a HA and CA and how important CPR is and when to do it

laura_dropstitch profile image
laura_dropstitchHeart Star in reply toKarenpr

I trained as a first aider at work a few years back and all of us on the course held the false impression (probably thanks to TV etc) that you're giving CPR to bring the person back to life, when you're actually just doing the heart's job of keeping blood and oxygen moving around the body until someone can get there with a defibrillator. Now I can't believe that wasn't obvious to me before...but it really wasn't! And, yes, confusion over heart attack versus cardiac arrest is everywhere. I thought they were one and the same thing until just a few years ago. So wrong! BHF have a really good graphic making the difference clear, will see if I can find it and post on here. x

Karenpr profile image
Karenpr in reply tolaura_dropstitch

Lots of people I have spoken to didn’t realise that if someone is having a HA you don’t need to do CPR, duh!!! Just help and watch in case heart stops. They dont realise with a HA the heart keeps beating it’s only with a CA that the heart stops and CPR is required immediately. When my husband had his CA his brain kicked it trying to draw breathe in to keep it alive and functioning, I’ve described the noise like someone snoring at jumbo jet decibel, the air being expressed made his face look like he was in a wind tunnel. This stopped after a minute or two and he went blue. Again I now know I should have commenced CPR whilst he was stilling trying to draw breathe to help him, but was concentrating on screaming for help as we were out with no phones!!

Well done Laura brilliant video.xxx Wayne

BigT2013 profile image
BigT2013

Brilliant video I have had OHS myself , but I have been a volunteer with St John Ambulance for nearly 30 years.

I am defibrillator trained and CPR trained.

My wife is also a trainer and my son a student Paramedic.

Amongst many other things.

When we are covering events we usually always carry an AED/Defibrillators.

All are easy to use and are now found in many locations.

For information some of the cabinets that contain defibs appear to have a keypad lock 🔒

Don't worry if u need it dial 999/112 tell them what's happening on the cabinet there will be a number tell them this number it will give Ambulance service location and they will give u the code for lock to gain access.

Some in train stations etc are just grab and go.

Hope this info will help

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