Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with adult cardiac arrest, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An adult who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Their heart may have stopped pumping blood.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Push hard and fast on the chest. Do not stop.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — They do not respond when you tap both shoulders and shout loudly.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Their chest is not rising and falling normally, or they are making gasping sounds.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Skin may turn pale, blue, or grey — especially lips and fingernails.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — They may have collapsed suddenly without warning.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The heart has likely stopped pumping blood. Without compressions, the brain begins to lose oxygen within minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cardiac arrest can happen suddenly from a heart attack, electrical problem, drowning, choking, or unknown causes. You do not need to know why to help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Gasping, snoring, or occasional breaths are NOT normal breathing — treat this as cardiac arrest.
Check the scene before you approach.
Do not move the person unless the scene is unsafe.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check that the area is safe for you to kneel beside them.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tap both shoulders and shout: "Are you okay?" — if no response, they need CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout for someone to call 112 and find an AED while you start compressions.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay them flat on their back on a firm surface.
When and how to get professional help.
Any adult in cardiac arrest needs emergency medical care immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not try to diagnose the cause. Focus on compressions and calling for help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 (India) or 108 (ambulance). Put the phone on speaker so you can keep doing compressions.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say clearly: "An adult has collapsed. They are not breathing. I am doing CPR. Send an ambulance and an AED."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Give your exact location — building name, floor, landmark, or nearby shop.
Useful questions before or while you help.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT waste time checking for a pulse — untrained pulse checks are unreliable.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put them in the recovery position — they need chest compressions.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT stop CPR because you think it is not working — compressions buy time until defibrillation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT worry about breaking ribs. Broken ribs can heal — cardiac arrest without CPR is fatal.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You must give mouth-to-mouth breaths for CPR to work
Other scenarios in the same family.
Infant cardiac arrest
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An infant under 1 year who is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
Child cardiac arrest
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Their heart may have stopped.
Chest pain / heart attack
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person with sudden, severe chest pain, pressure, or discomfort that may spread to the arm, jaw, or back — possible heart attack.
Shock signs
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person who is pale, cold, sweaty, confused, and weak after injury, bleeding, allergy, infection, or illness — possible shock.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (between the nipples). Put your other hand on top and interlock fingers.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Push hard — at least 5 cm (2 inches) deep — and fast — 100 to 120 pushes per minute. Let the chest fully rise between pushes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If an AED arrives, turn it on and follow the voice prompts. Do not stop compressions until the AED tells you to pause.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Adult cardiac arrest is always life-threatening. Continue CPR until paramedics arrive and take over.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Even if the person starts breathing again before help arrives, they still need emergency hospital care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hands-only CPR (chest compressions alone) is effective for bystanders and keeps blood flowing to the brain.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People avoid starting CPR because they do not want to give rescue breaths.