First aid in case of cardiac arrest

First aid in case of cardiac arrest is essential to keep the victim alive while medical help is not enough.

So, the most important is to begin the cardiac massage, which should be done as follows:

1. Call for medical help by calling 192;
2. Lay the victim on the floor, with the belly up;
3. Raise the subject's chin slightly upward to facilitate breathing, as picture 1 shows;
4. Support the hands, one on the other in the victim's chest, between the nipples, above the heart, as shown in figure 2;
5. Make 2 compressions per second until the victim's heart beat again alone, or until the ambulance arrives.

Should the victim's heart beat again, it is recommended that the subject be placed in the lateral safety position, as shown in Figure 3, until medical help arrives.

Here's the step-by-step guide on how to perform a heart massage by watching this video:

Causes of cardiac arrest

Some causes of cardiac arrest include:

• Drowning;
• Electric shock;
• Acute myocardial infarction;
• Bleeding;
• Cardiac arrhythmia;
• Severe infection.

After cardiac arrest, it is normal for the victim to be admitted to a hospital for a few days until the cause is determined and until the patient is recovered.

Useful links:

• First aid for stroke
• What to do in case of drowning
• What to do on the burn