Health

Improving survival after cardiac arrest

09:32 am on 7 August 2018

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How to dramatically improve a patient's chance of survival when they have a cardiac arrest outside a hospital?

A system developed in Washington State in the US is leading the world in terms of survival rates - New Zealand's St John Ambulance says the system is the gold standard in treating cardiac arrest.

Lynn talks with Ann Doll, Executive Director of the Resuscitation Academy Foundation in Washington, and cardiologist  Dr Peter Kudenchuk,  medical director of the Academy and also Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Washington.

"For the layperson, get the hands on the chest, press the chest rapidly and deeply and keep going til paramedics arrive - don't worry about breathing", says Dr Kudenchuk.

St John Ambulance paramedics performing CPR Photo: @LeeHowell2013