CJ has his hands on an unconscious man's shoulders.

How confident do you feel about helping someone who is unresponsive and not breathing when an AED is available?

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CJ is smiling.

CJ has just finished a weights session at the gym when he spots someone collapsed and unresponsive. CJ steps in to help, asking his sister for support.

CJ is talking to his sister who is smiling.

The gym is my home from home. I was in training for the new athletics season and had just done a pretty tough weights session.

CJ is talking to his sister who is laughing.

My sister had tagged along to go swimming and we were planning on treating ourselves to a cake for all our efforts.

CJ leans from his wheelchair to look at an older man who is laid on the ground.

We were making our way to the café, when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an older guy suddenly fall to the ground. I did a double take. He really didn’t look good and wasn’t moving.

CJ has his hands on an unconscious man's shoulders.

No one else seemed to be doing anything and the reception desk was empty. I’d just done first aid as part of my sports course at college and knew someone needed to check if he was OK.

CJ has his hands on an unconscious man's shoulders.

I shook the guy’s shoulders and started shouting, “Hello, hello, can you hear me?” I didn’t get any response at all.

CJ has his hands on an unconscious man's shoulders.

I needed to find out if he was breathing. I tilted his head back and looked for breathing. His chest was still. I realised this was a really bad situation for him.

Joy is making a mobile phone call while CJ is giving chest compressions.

Trying not to panic, I shouted at Joy to call 999 and ask for an ambulance. We had to get help on the way as soon as possible.

CJ's fingers are interlaced and in the centre of the unconscious man's chest.

I started pushing down hard on the centre of the guy’s chest.

Joy is standing and looking down at the back of CJ.

I asked Joy to look for an AED. They are usually available in gyms and public places and anyone can use them. Getting one would give us the best chance of keeping him going until the ambulance arrived.

Joy is kneeling next to the unconscious man with one finger on an AED and the other hand stretched out with a raised palm.

Joy wasn’t sure what to do, but I told her to just open the AED case. AEDs tell you what to do. We just needed to follow its instructions. We stayed with him until the staff came to help. Pushing on his chest was really hard work but worth it.

Joy is kneeling next to the unconscious man with one finger on an AED and the other hand stretched out with a raised palm.

It was a really scary situation but I’m pretty proud of how I acted, staying calm and remembering what I’d learned.

CJ stepped in and helped someone in a really serious situation. How do you think you would have reacted if you had found someone unresponsive and not breathing?

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are machines that can shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. Who can use an AED?

Anyone Only staff where an AED is kept Only medically trained people
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If someone is unresponsive and not breathing, what is the key action you can take while you wait for help to arrive?

Chest compressions Turn the person on their side Keep them warm
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Watch this animation to see how the key action works

CJ's fingers are interlaced and in the centre of the unconscious man's chest.
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CJ has his hands on an unconscious man's shoulders.

How confident do you feel about helping someone who is unresponsive and not breathing when an AED is available?

0
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Totally
CJ's friend is kneeling next to the unconscious person with her finger on the AED

Take action: If someone is unresponsive and not breathing and an AED is available, give chest compressions. Open the AED and follow the voice prompts.

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