What to do if someone collapses and does not respond

SCDF's Civil Defence Emergency Handbook sets out these steps: tap the person on the shoulders and shout. If there is no response, ask someone to call 995 for an ambulance and another person to get the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Lay the person flat on their back, open the airway with a head-tilt-chin-lift, then look, listen and feel for breathing.

If the person is not breathing, start chest compressions (CPR) straight away: hands on the centre of the breastbone, elbows straight, at a rate of at least 100 per minute and a depth of about 5 cm. Hands-only CPR is fine; mouth-to-mouth breaths are optional. Keep going until an AED or the ambulance crew arrives, or the person shows signs of life.

All SCDF 995 specialists are trained to give CPR instructions over the phone, so follow what they tell you. This is a reminder of the key points, not a substitute for a course. Hand position and compression force need hands-on practice with an instructor.