CPR & AED awareness

Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively. The person collapses, stops responding, and is not breathing normally. It is different from a heart attack, though a heart attack can trigger it.

Recognizing the emergency and calling for help immediately is the first and most important step — survival chances fall quickly with every minute that passes without action, which is why aviation treats this as one of the most time-critical onboard emergencies.

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) awareness means understanding that chest compressions help keep oxygenated blood moving to the brain and vital organs until an AED or further medical help is available. The exact technique — hand placement, depth, and rate — must be learned and practiced in a certified first-aid/CPR course, not from reading alone.

An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is designed for use by laypeople: once switched on, it gives clear spoken instructions, analyzes the heart's rhythm through pads placed on the chest, and only delivers a shock if it detects a rhythm that a shock can correct.

Cabin crew responsibilities typically include recognizing the emergency, calling for help and the AED, starting CPR as trained, following the AED's voice prompts, informing the flight deck immediately, and continuing care while seeking any medical professional on board.

Because this is one of the few situations where seconds genuinely matter, airlines require hands-on CPR/AED practice during training — this lesson builds awareness and vocabulary, not the physical skill itself.