Could you save a life? Cardiac arrests in the workplace

This February is National Heart Month.

According to the British Heart Foundation, more than 30,000 people each year in the UK have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital environment. That might be in their home, in the street – or at work.

Currently, fewer than one in 10 people survive.

Could you save a colleague’s life if they had a cardiac arrest at work?

What is a cardiac arrest?

A cardiac arrest is the medical term given to what happens when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating.

A person who experiences cardiac arrest will collapse suddenly without warning. They will be unconscious, unresponsive, and either not breathing at all, or not breathing normally.

This is different from someone having a heart attack, who may clutch their chest, experience breathlessness, or complain of left arm and shoulder pain. Find out more about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

Sudden cardiac arrest

A sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time. It doesn’t matter how fit the person is, and there may be no prior history of heart trouble.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. Without immediate medical attention, a person in cardiac arrest will die within minutes.

What should you do if someone has a cardiac arrest at work?

Someone in cardiac arrest needs a controlled electric shock, administered by a defibrillator, to restart their heart.

Without a defibrillator to hand, your job on the scene is to buy time, keeping that person alive until a defibrillator can be brought to them.

By carrying out CPR, you ensure blood and oxygen continue to be pumped around the person’s body, keeping them alive until a defibrillator can be used to restart their heart and hopefully restore normal rhythm.

Cardiac arrest: What to do

If someone collapses without warning and appears unconscious, you should:

#1 Check their vitals – Are they breathing? Shake them gently by the shoulders and ask them loudly if they can hear you. If they don’t respond…

#2 Call for help – Shout to nearby people to call for an ambulance. If you’re on your own, call 999 and place your mobile phone on speakerphone.

#3 Start chest compressions immediately, and continue until medical assistance arrives.

#4 If there is a defibrillator nearby, get someone to bring it to you, and follow the instructions to use it. You don’t need to have had any prior training. Do not stop chest compressions to go and fetch a defibrillator, no matter how close it is.

Cardiac arrest in the workplace

In the event of someone suffering a cardiac arrest in your workplace, every second counts, which is something Jolie knows only too well.

Jolie's story

Jolie was just 30 years old when she had a cardiac arrest at the school she worked in. Her friend and colleague Louise performed CPR, keeping Jolie alive until paramedics arrived.

Primary school deputy head teacher, Jolie – a fit and healthy mum-of-one – was leading morning assembly when she collapsed in sudden cardiac arrest.

Jolie's friend and colleague Louise, who was trained in CPR and had recently undergone a refresher course, quickly stepped in. Louise performed CPR until the paramedics arrived on the scene.

It is thanks to Louise’s quick thinking that Jolie is here today.

Listen to Jolie’s story in her own words.

The British Heart Foundation offers free online training in how to perform CPR and how to use a defibrillator. All you need is a mobile phone or tablet, and a cushion to practice on. For more information on cardiac arrest, you can also view the charity’s dedicated webpages or consult the Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK website.

To view our range of first aid equipment, visit our shop here.