Recognising and Responding to Workplace Cardiac Arrest
A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. A fast, organised response can help keep someone alive until an ambulance arrives. Every workplace should understand how to raise the alarm and access first aid equipment.
How to recognise cardiac arrest
A person in cardiac arrest will be unresponsive and will not be breathing normally. Gasping or irregular breaths are not normal breathing. If you are unsure, call 999 and follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions.
What to do in the first few minutes
- Check the area is safe and check whether the person responds.
- Call 999 and ask a colleague to bring the nearest AED.
- Start chest compressions and keep interruptions as short as possible.
- Switch on the AED and follow its instructions when it arrives.
- Continue until the person shows signs of life, trained help takes over, or you are too exhausted to continue.
Prepare your workplace
Make sure staff know the location of first aid equipment, how to raise the alarm and who can help. Include cardiac arrest response in workplace procedures and refresh practical skills regularly so people are more likely to act quickly under pressure.
Workplace first aid training
Frontline Training delivers practical courses covering CPR, AED awareness and wider workplace first aid skills. Visit our workplace first aid training page or request a group booking quote for your organisation.