Advertisement
In association with Specsavers

CPR – How to help save a life

The Scottish Government has been promoting its campaign to Save A Life. Here are the five steps for bystanders to perform CPR on someone who’s had a cardiac arrest

In Scotland each year, around 3,000 people will have a cardiac arrest. Unfortunately only around 1 in 20 people will survive, but bystanders who carry out CPR can buy time until an ambulance crew arrives – chances of survival increase by two to three times if someone carries out CPR before medics get to the scene.

The Scottish Government has been promoting its campaign to Save A Life. Read all about it here: www.savealife.scot and see below for the five golden rules of what you should do if you see someone with cardiac arrest.

THE FIVE STEPS TO TAKE:

  • 1. Check to see if the person is responsive and if they are breathing normally. If they are not then their heart has stopped beating and they are having a cardiac arrest.
  • 2. Shout for help and call 999. The operator will talk you through what needs to be done.
  • 3. Then do Hands-only CPR.
  • 4. Put your hands together and lock your fingers, knuckles up. Keep your arms straight and lock your elbows. Get up on your knees so your shoulders are right over their chest. Then push down by five or six centimetres on the centre of their chest. Push hard and fast about two times a second, like to the beat of Stayin’ Alive. Don’t worry about hurting them. A cracked rib can mend – just concentrate on saving a life.
  • 5. Keep going and don’t stop until the ambulance arrives.

Whether it is for a family member or a stranger, stepping forward to perform CPR does save lives.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Learn more about our impact

When most people think about the Big Issue, they think of vendors selling the Big Issue magazines on the streets – and we are immensely proud of this. In 2022 alone, we worked with 10% more vendors and these vendors earned £3.76 million in collective income. There is much more to the work we do at the Big Issue Group, our mission is to create innovative solutions through enterprise to unlock opportunity for the 14million people in the UK living in poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
What are ultra-processed foods? The health risks explained
Health

What are ultra-processed foods? The health risks explained

Simple steps which ease stress and anxiety to get yourself out of a funk
Mental health

Simple steps which ease stress and anxiety to get yourself out of a funk

How can you cope with money worries in the cost of living crisis? We asked experts at leading mental health charities
Mental health

How can you cope with money worries in the cost of living crisis? We asked experts at leading mental health charities

Pollen bomb: Why your hay fever is so bad this year - and how you can beat the symptoms
Summer

Pollen bomb: Why your hay fever is so bad this year - and how you can beat the symptoms

Most Popular

Read All
Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023
1.

Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know
2.

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying
3.

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme
4.

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme