How to save a life using a defibrillator – nurse walks through step-by-step instructions

A professional in utilising defibrillators, giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and knowing a lot about the heart muscle, senior cardiac nurse Chloe MacArthur shared to Express.co.uk the steps involved when you witness a person collapsing onto the floor.

If somebody falls unconscious near you, is unresponsive and isn’t breathing, they are likely to be experiencing a cardiac arrest.

This differs from a heart attack whereby a person remains concious, but both are considered medical emergencies. 

“Call 999, start CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] and ask someone to find a defibrillator, but don’t leave the person to go and find one,” said MacArthur.

A cardiac arrest can soon turn deadly if prompt action isn’t taken, which is why it’s important to know what to do in this situation. 

How to do CPR

Those not trained to do CPR should attempt hands-only CPR, the NHS says.

Hands-only CPR

To carry out a chest compression:

1. Kneel next to the person and place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of their chest. Place the palm of your other hand on top of the hand that’s on their chest and interlock your fingers.
2. Position yourself so your shoulders are directly above your hands.
3. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by five to six cm on their chest.
4. Keeping your hands on their chest, release the compression and allow their chest to return to its original position.
5. Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute until an ambulance arrives or for as long as you can.

People who are confident in CPR and rescue breaths can do chest compressions and rescue breaths.

CPR with rescue breaths

1. Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the person’s chest, then place the palm of your other hand on top and press down by five to six cm at a steady rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
2. After every 30 chest compressions, give two rescue breaths.
3. Tilt the person’s head gently and lift the chin up with two fingers. Pinch the person’s nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth for about one second. Check that their chest rises. Give two rescue breaths.
4. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

What’s a defibrillator?

A defibrillator is a device that can shock the heart back to a normal rhythm, thereby restarting the heart.

“Once you have a defibrillator, open it up and turn it on. The defibrillator will speak to you, so listen carefully to the instructions.”

MacArthur elaborated: “It will tell you to peel off the sticky pads and place them on the person’s chest.

“There will be a clear illustration on the pads to show you where they go.

“It will ask you to stop CPR so that it can read the heart rhythm, it will then decide whether or not a shock is necessary.”

MacArthur clarified: “If it is then you will be told to stop touching the person.

“If it is a semi-automatic defibrillator, you’ll be asked to press the shock button.

“If you are using a fully automated defibrillator, it will automatically deliver a shock.

“The machine may then ask you to continue CPR which you should do until you see signs of life, someone can take over from you or you become exhausted.”

Should the person gain consciousness, they need to be put into the recovery position until the emergency services arrive.

“Keep the pads on and watch the person carefully in case you need to restart CPR,” added MacArthur.

A step-by-step guide is also available on the British Heart Foundation website.