Common Questions about Cardiac Arrest

When someone experiences a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), what you see can be surprising and sometimes confusing. Many people hesitate to act because the person doesn’t look like they expect. Understanding what you may see can help you recognise cardiac arrest and be better prepared for if it was to happen around you. You need to act fast and starting lifesaving action so that the person can have the best chance of survival. Without quick action, the person will die.

Cardiac Arrest is when the function of the heart stops. This means blood is stopped from being pumped around the body, and blood flow to vital organs such as the brain is decreased. Key features of a cardiac arrest are that the person becomes unresponsive and will not breathing normally.

More recently, new evidence and research into cardiac arrest, is leading us to learn that during a cardiac arrest, a person may have their eyes open, show seizure like movements, and have chest movements which are gasping, laboured or even panting like in nature. This can lead to cardiac arrest not being recognised, meaning delays to calling for help and starting of CPR.

In this blog, we aim to explain more about some of the common features of cardiac arrest.

Question 1: Why might a person in cardiac arrest have their eyes open?

A person in sudden cardiac arrest may have their eyes open, stare blankly, or appear to be looking around.

This can make bystanders think the person is still conscious. However, because the heart has stopped pumping blood effectively, the brain is no longer receiving the oxygen it needs. Open eyes do not mean the person is awake or responsive.

Question 2: Why do people in cardiac arrest sometimes display seizure-like movements?

In the first moments after cardiac arrest, some people may twitch, jerk, or display movements that resemble a seizure.

These movements occur because the brain is being deprived of oxygen. While it may look like a seizure, it could actually be a sign of cardiac arrest, making it vital to check for responsiveness and normal breathing. If they are unresponsive and the breathing is not normal - this must been seen as a cardiac arrest

Questions 3: Why might a person in cardiac arrest gasp, sigh, pant or have laboured breathing?

A person in cardiac arrest may make occasional gasping, snorting, or panting sounds. This is known as agonal breathing and is not normal breathing.

These gasps are a sign that the person needs immediate help. If someone is unresponsive and only gasping or panting, treat it as a cardiac arrest

and act quickly.

How to I perform CPR?

Follow 3 Steps to Save a Life

1. Check

Gently shake the person to check if they are responsive. Check if they are breathing normally. Shout for help.

2. Call

Call emergency services immediately, put them on loudspeaker. Tell them you are with someone who has collapsed and is not responding. The call handler will talk you through how to assess for normal breathing if you are unsure.

Ask someone to bring an AED (defibrillator) if one is available. The call handler will tell you the location of the nearest public access defibrillator

3. CPR

Start CPR by pushing hard and fast in the centre of the chest; approximately 5-6cm in depth in an adult casualty, and at a speed of 100-120 compressions per minute.

The call handler will stay on the phone and talk you through what to do.

Keep going until help arrives, person shows signs of recovery, or the defibrillator is instructing you to stand clear.

Recognising these signs and acting quickly can make the difference between life and death.

Remember: Check, Call, CPR.