Heart attack, drowning, electric shock, and other medical problems may cause a person’s heart to stop pumping blood. This is called sudden cardiac arrest.
Signs and Symptoms of a possible heart attack
- Chest discomfort (uncomfortable chest pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain)
- Discomfort in other areas of upper body
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating, nausea, lightheadedness
Signs and Symptoms of a sudden cardiac arrest
- Sudden collapse
- No pulse
- No breathing
- Loss of conciousness
Importance of CPR and AED
The immediate and effective use of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), coupled with the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), improves chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
Many campus buildings have a wall-mounted AED at a readily accessible location.
An AED will diagnose the person’s condition prior to delivering a shock, and will only deliver a shock to a person in cardiac arrest. By following its audible commands an untrained person can safely use an AED.
If a person has suddenly collapsed:
- Check the person for a response.
- If the person is not responsive, notify (or tell someone else to notify) Yale Police by calling 203-432-4400, by using a blue campus phone, or calling 911.
- Report:
- Location (building and room number)
- Best entrance for responders to go to (someone should meet responders at the entrance)
- Your name and the number from which you are calling
- If available, retrieve building’s AED (or tell someone else to bring the AED).
- If you are trained, perform hands-only CPR. Push hard and fast in the center of chest.
- When the AED arrives, turn it ON and follow its commands.
- Report all incidents as instructed under “Other medical emergencies.”