Cardiac arrest

If someone has a cardiac arrest, call 999 for an ambulance immediately.

• Causes of cardiac arrest
  Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping blood around the body, and can be a result of heart attack, choking or trauma.
  Read more about the causes of cardiac arrest.
  
• Learn to save lives
  If you learn basic life-support skills and how to recognise a cardiac arrest, you could help to save someone's life.
  Find out how you can learn to save a life.
  
• How to use a defibrillator
  We have made an online video to teach people how to save lives with a defibrillator
  Watch the defibrillator demonstration video
  
• Cardiac arrest treatment
  When our staff arrive at a patient who has had a cardiac arrest, they will usually try to restart their heart using a defibrillator. This machine delivers an electric shock to the heart which greatly increases the chances of it beating again.
  Find out more about the treatment we can give to cardiac arrest patients.
  
• Public-access defibrillators
  There are over 750 defibrillators in public places like train stations and shopping centres in the capital, with people there trained to use them.
  Find out more about public-access defibrillators.
  
• Real life: Ian's story
  Ian Brown, 50 from Sidcup, was at work on a construction site in Deptford in May when he suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing.
  Read Ian's story   
  
• Real life: Erica's story
  Erica Payet, 25, was jogging along Bermondsey Street on a Sunday afternoon in March when she suffered a cardiac arrest outside the Garrison pub.
  Read Erica's story
  
• Real life: Keith's story
  Keith Grey, 41, was working out in his gym when he suffered a cardiac arrest in October last year. Luckily for him, the staff at the Central YMCA Club, Bloomsbury, had been trained by us in basic life support and how to use a defibrillator.
  Read Keith's story
  
• Real life: James' story
  James Fuller, 28, was in a meeting at work in Canary Wharf one Monday when he collapsed. He had suffered a cardiac arrest. An ambulance was called immediately, along with the trained first aid rep in the office.
  Read James' story
  
• Real life: Steve's story
  We have trained more than 5,500 people who work in these places to use the defibrillators so they can start life-saving procedures while our staff are on their way. Steve Hodder's life was saved in this way when he suffered a cardiac arrest at London Bridge train station.
  Read Steve's story. 
   
• Real life: Mary's story
  Twenty-eight-year-old Mary Cook was walking along Tooley Street, London Bridge, one evening when she collapsed and stopped breathing. British Transport Police Constable Noel Harmsworth was passing by and immediately started chest compressions.
  Read Mary's story
  
• Real life: Lee's story
  Lee was at home jamming with friends last July when he suffered a cardiac arrest. The quick actions of his friends and our staff helped save his life.
  Read Lee's story