Loading...

Would you know what to do?

You have learned how to treat minor injuries. But what if something more serious happens? Knowing what to do in a medical emergency is important. There is nearly always a delay between when someone becomes ill or injured and when professional medical help arrives. In those minutes, what you do or don’t do can make a big difference.

Use the slides below to learn what to do if someone collapses.

two hands doing chest compressions on a person wearing white shirt and tie

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when a person’s heart stops beating. Basically, CPR keeps the person’s blood flowing until medical help arrives. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chances of survival after a heart attack.

AED

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat. It can also return the heart to a normal rhythm if it suddenly stops beating. If a stopped heart is not treated within minutes, the person will quickly die.

AED connected to man on beach while person does chest compressions

Putting It All Together

If someone collapses, here’s what to do:

  1. Shake the person’s shoulder and ask loudly, “Are you okay?” If the person responds, wait to see if the condition improves or worsens before doing anything else.

  2. If the person is unresponsive with no pulse, have someone call 9-1-1. Have that person or someone else get an automatic external defibrillator (AED) if one is available.

  3. Follow the directions on the AED.

  4. Look to see if the person is breathing. Using two fingers, try to find a pulse in the neck under the jaw line. If the person is breathing and has a pulse but is still unresponsive, wait for EMS to arrive.

  5. If there is no pulse, begin chest compressions. Place your hands as shown in the photo, press down firmly (aim for a depth of 2 inches) and fast (about 100 compressions per minute).

  6. Continue chest compressions until medical personnel arrive. If possible, alternate with another bystander--giving high-quality chest compressions is hard work!

Use your favorite search engine to navigate to the website of the American Heart Association or of another medical organization. Use information from that site to answer the questions below.

How should your hands be placed when performing CPR?

What MUST you do just before delivering a shock with an AED?

What is the purpose of purpose of an automated external defibrillator?

Your Responses Sample Answers
  Place the heel of one hand on the breastbone, just below the nipples. Place the heel of your other hand on top of the first hand.
  You must make sure that no one is touching the person. Otherwise, that person will also get an electrical shock.
  An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat. It can also return the heart to a normal rhythm if it suddenly stops beating.

Try it!

Now that you have learned about CPR, demonstrate what you have learned by showing a family member the steps involved in CPR.