What To Do In case of Collapse

Performing CPR

If you see someone has collapsed, their heart may have suddenly stopped beating, and their breathing may be abnormal or has stopped. You need to act fast so they can have the best chance of survival. Without quick action, the person will die.

We've updated our guidance in line with the Resuscitation Council UK.

Before you approach the person who has collapsed, check your surroundings for danger.

1. Check for a response
Shout for help and gently shake the person who has collapsed to check for a response.
2. Call 999
Put the phone on loudspeaker and tell them you are with someone who has collapsed and is not responding.
3. Look and listen for signs of normal breathing
Look for the rise and fall of their chest.
The ambulance call handler will help you check for signs of normal breathing.
4. Start chest compressions
Interlock your fingers.
Place your hands in the centre of the chest. Push down hard and then release twice per second, and don’t stop.
The ambulance call handler will help you.
5. Rescue breaths
If you have been trained to provide rescue breaths, alternate 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.
When providing rescue breaths, deliver just enough air to make the chest start to rise; avoid excessive ventilation.
If you are unable to ventilate the chest after 2 attempts, consider foreign body airway obstruction (refer to first aid).
If you are not trained to provide rescue breaths, perform continuous chest compressions without interruptions.
6. The ambulance call handler will tell you where the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) is.
If someone is with you, ask them to fetch it and bring it back.
7. If you have a defibrillator, switch it on and follow the instructions
Follow the audio/visual prompts from the defibrillator. It will tell you exactly what to do.
Attach the electrode pads to the person’s bare chest. Ensure the pad on the person’s left side is attached directly under the armpit.

If the person is wearing a bra, place the pads in the correct position under the fabric of the bra. If the bra interferes with correctly locating the pad position, then the bra should be removed.
If more than one rescuer is present, continue CPR while the pads are being attached.
8. Continue CPR
Continue giving CPR until:
the AED asks you to pause while it re-analyses and gives another shock if needed
an ambulance crew arrives and tells you what to do
the person shows signs of life.

Accessing the AED

The defibrillator is locked in a cabinet on the outside wall of The Percy Arms - the cabinet is climate controlled to ensure the battery and pads do not become too cold, and the device does not attract any undesireable interferance.

The code to the lock is held by the North East Ambulance Service who will tell you the code in response to a 999 call. Once you tell the operator you are dealing with a collapse in Chatton, they will know there is a Public Access Defibrillator in the village and prompt you to gain access.