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If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or seek care at an emergency room.
If you saw someone collapse in public, would you know what to do?
June is National CPR and AED Awareness Month, making it a good time to brush up on the steps you can take to potentially save a life. You don’t have to be a healthcare professional, trained lifeguard, or even certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to step in during a medical emergency until advanced help arrives.
Knowing when and how to use CPR and AEDs could be the difference between life and death if you happen upon someone who is experiencing cardiac arrest.
Quickly assess the situation.
Imagine you’re shopping at the grocery store or enjoying the company of family and friends at a picnic, and you see someone who appears unconscious. The first thing you should do is determine whether or not they can respond. You should forcefully tap their shoulders and ask, “Are you okay?”
If they are alert, able to speak or move, you do not need to proceed with CPR. If they do not answer, the next step is to identify if they are breathing on their own by watching for the chest to rise. If they are not, it’s time to quickly proceed to CPR, after calling 911.
Every second counts, so it’s important to move urgently while you’re investigating how best you can help someone experiencing a medical emergency.
Call 911.
After you’ve identified that someone is unresponsive and not breathing on their own, call 911 right away. Ultimately, you want trained emergency responders at the scene as quickly as possible. If you’re with a group of people, you could direct someone else to call 911 while you begin administering CPR. If you're alone with someone in cardiac arrest, call 911 and put the phone on speaker while the dispatcher provides step-by-step guidance to perform CPR or any other necessary aid until professional help arrives.
Locate and use an AED.
An AED is an automated external defibrillator. It’s sort of like an external pacemaker, placed on the outside of the body to regulate heart rate. AEDs are portable devices that are commonly found in schools, grocery stores, airports, shopping centers, and anywhere there is a regular influx of people. They’re typically located near bathrooms or water fountains and are clearly marked on the wall with a flag so they’re easily located.
During a cardiac event, the normal heartbeat is disrupted. The heart is still moving, but it isn’t compressing and expanding at its normal rate. An AED can be critical because it evaluates the heart’s rhythm and identifies how best a patient needs help. If it detects an abnormal heart rhythm, it can deliver an electrical shock to the heart in order to try to restart the heart. The shock is intended to interrupt the irregular heartbeat and help it to resume a normal rhythm.
AEDs are designed to be completely automated, which means all you have to know how to do is turn on the power button or open the lid, depending on the design. Anyone can remove an AED from the wall and begin using it to potentially save a life. The AED will use voice instructions to walk you through what to do, including:
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How to turn it on
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Where to plug in the pads
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How and where to place the pads on someone
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When and how to deliver a shock, if necessary
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What to do next, including whether or not to resume CPR
If an AED is nearby, you should use it as soon as possible. Ideally, if someone else is around, they can run to get the AED while you begin or continue CPR.
Start CPR.
CPR is a learned skill that anyone can perform. After you’ve identified that an individual is unresponsive and not breathing, it’s important to initiate CPR right away. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), giving proper CPR immediately can double or triple the chances of survival of cardiac arrest.
Once you’re on the phone with 911, they can walk you through performing basic CPR. However, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for an emergency scenario by watching a CPR instructional video online or taking a CPR class. Becoming certified in CPR can help you feel confident and empowered to respond quickly in an emergency.
CPR involves alternating 30 chest compressions with two mouth-to-mouth breaths until advanced help arrives. It’s important to note that this technique is the same whether you’re performing CPR on a child or an adult.
The rate and depth at which you perform chest compressions is very important. The heart is a muscle, and CPR is designed to encourage it to do its job of contracting and expanding. Your hands should be placed firmly one on top of the other at the middle of the third breastbone. You should compress at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute, two to two and a half inches deep. You’ll need to push down on the center of the chest with strong pressure and allow the chest to fully recoil before your next compression.
What are Good Samaritan laws?
Good Samaritan laws vary by state but are written to encourage bystanders and the general public to step up and help in an emergency whether or not they are trained to use CPR or AEDs. They’re designed to protect those who are helping others in good faith from civil liability.
Don’t hesitate or be afraid to help.
At MedStar Health, we’re proud to partner with Montgomery County Public Schools, assisting in community education, access to healthcare, and resources for emergency preparedness. Athletic trainers are available onsite at all 25 high schools in the county, ensuring the safety of our athletes and bystanders at athletic events throughout the region.
However, in many cases, medical emergencies arise when and where you least expect it, to the people you least expect. Your willingness to respond quickly could save a life.
CPR and AED training can help you feel equipped to help those in sudden, dire emergencies. On June 14, MedStar Health athletic trainers partnered with Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services (MCFRS), Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® Theta Omega Omega Chapter to provide free hands-only bystander CPR and AED instruction at Montgomery Blair High School. By knowing what to do in a medical emergency, you can feel empowered to assist those in life-or-death situations until trained responders can arrive on the scene.
