Learn to save a life with CPR

A cardiac arrest happens when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating, they collapse, and their breathing is abnormal or has stopped. Without quick action, the person will die.

If someone has a cardiac arrest, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and afraid to act. However, you can greatly increase their likelihood of survival by:

• Shout for help and gently shake the person who has collapsed to check for a response.
• Call 999 and put your phone on loudspeaker.
• Look and listen for signs of normal breathing – look for the rise and fall of their chest.
• Start chest compressions – the ambulance call handler will tell you what to do.

CPR (‘cardiopulmonary resuscitation’) helps maintain blood and oxygen flow to vital organs until the emergency services arrive in the event of a cardiac arrest. CPR greatly increases the person’s chance of surviving. 

Any CPR is better than no CPR – which is why it’s so important to learn how to do it, so you feel confident enough to try.

You can learn to do CPR from home or in a face-to-face setting, it’s up to you. 

• Save a Life Scotland has lots of resources to help you learn, including this video.
• The Resuscitation Council UK also has information on how to do CPR.
• The British Heart Foundation has an online training course to help you learn CPR in 15 minutes for free.
• If you’d like to learn CPR face to face, you can get in touch with Save a Life Scotland here.

By taking the time to learn these skills you could save a life one day.

CPR on children and babies is different to CPR on adults. In the unlikely event that a child or baby suffers a cardiac arrest, it is always best to be prepared.

• The Resuscitation Council UK has information on how to do CPR on adults, children and babies.
• The British Heart Foundation also have advice on how to do CPR on a child or baby.

NHS inform has more information on cardiac arrests and CPR, including where to get support if you’ve seen or provided CPR.