Being able to do CPR could save a life! Do you know how to perform CPR correctly? How to use a defibrillator? What to do in an emergency situation?

If no CPR is performed, it only takes three to four minutes for the person to become brain dead due to a lack of oxygen.

By performing CPR, you circulate the blood so it can provide oxygen to the body, and the brain and other organs stay alive while you wait for the ambulance. There is usually enough oxygen still in the blood to keep the brain and other organs alive for a number of minutes, but it is not circulating unless someone does CPR. CPR does not guarantee that the person will survive, but it does give that person a chance when otherwise there would have been none.

CPR is a life saving skill that everyone should learn. You should update your knowledge annually to make sure you’re confident at performing CPR, which in an emergency could save a life.

This information is not substitute for proper CPR training by an accredited organisation. Visit St John’s Ambulance website to find course locations.