How To Identify Cardiac Arrest

Health and Wellbeing

A cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. Someone who is suffering from a cardiac arrest will suddenly lose consciousness and will stop breathing or stop breathing normally.

Find out more about how to identify if someone is having a cardiac arrest and needs CPR.

Remember: do not put your own safety at risk. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure you are in a safe environment before helping another person.

Image showing the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest. For heart attacks, the person is awake and in pain, breathing, the heart is still working and they will need to go to hospital quickly. For cardiac arrests the person is unconscious, not breathing, the heart is not working and the person will need CPR and emergency services immediately.

Once you have identified that a person is having a cardiac arrest, call for help, call 999 and start CPR immediately. Learn how to perform CPR with our guide.

Visit our CPR landing page for all you need to know abut CPR.