3 CPR actions to take when someone’s heartbeat stops

Even those trained in CPR might forget the number of chest compressions to rescue breaths, so just doing the chest compressions is good enough in an emergency. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

If someone’s heartbeat stops, it’s imperative to act quickly as there’s often very little time for successful resuscitation. If bystanders wait for an ambulance to arrive instead of acting themselves, the person can die or suffer permanent brain damage.

When it comes to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) however, many people don’t know how to properly perform mouth-to-mouth respiration or find it too challenging. In their agitation, even people with CPR training may forget the correct sequence and ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths.