O-Ringen Magazine, nr 1 2024

Learn to save lives!
Read and learn more
What to do if you suspect cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition where
the heart, for whatever reason, stops beating. It’s more
common than you might realise. Many people believe it only
affects the elderly, which isn’t true. Sudden cardiac arrest
can affect people of all ages.
Every day, around 16 Swedes suffer cardiac arrest outside of
hospital, requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Only
two of these survive. Not everyone can be saved but, with the right
knowledge and equipment in place, many more could be.
The most important thing is for CPR to start immediately and
that a defibrillator is available and ready to use. The chances of
survival decrease by 10% with every passing minute, so there really
is no time to lose.
When someone phones 112 to report a cardiac arrest, SOS
Alarm are alerted – as well as the emergency services, up to 30
citizen responders will receive information by text about where the
nearest defibrillator is.
It is also very important that defibrillators are registered (www.
hjartstartarregistret.se) and ideally, are available to use all the
time. It’s great that there are so many defibrillators but they need
to be available, not behind locked doors. In Sweden, only 20% of
Stefan Jutterdal survived a cardiac arrest himself and is now an ambassador for Hjärtuppropet. Photo: Hjärtuppropet.se
defibrillators are available all the time. In Denmark it’s 70% and the
chances of survival there are significantly higher.
What can we do to make our society safer for hearts?
Ahead of this summer’s O-Ringen on the Småland Coast, we
are taking the initiative to work towards a safer place for hearts,
working alongside Hjärtuppropet, Kalmar region and the Swedish
Heart and Lung Association in Oskarshamn.
The message is that more lives could be saved if everyone learns
how to do CPR and there are enough defibrillators available. So,
everyone who has a defibrillator is urged to make sure it’s registered
and, if possible, place it in a heated box outside. This would help
make Kalmar region a safer place for hearts. The initiative has been
well received and so far nine defibrillators have been moved outside,
making them available at all hours.
The housing association Byggebo AB, Döderhult parish, IK Oskarshamn
and Oskarshamn District Council have all led by example
and hopefully the number of defibrillators available all the time will
increase over the spring.
Residents are also encouraged to attend a CPR course. A good
start is the Swedish Heart and Lung Association’s new online course
at hlr.nu/allakanhlr/, which takes only 15 minutes.
Defibrillator register
hjartstartarregister.se
Find your nearest defibrillator
“allakanHLR” (everyone can do CPR)
hlr.nu/allakanhlr
The Swedish Heart and Lung
Association’s new online course,
which takes only 15 minutes
How to perform CPR on adults
hlr.nu/sa-har-gor-du-vuxen-hlr/
CPR advice in Swedish
What is his advice on how we can improve cardiac safety?
– Everyone should know how to do CPR. It’s just as important as
being able to swim. Learn CPR and become a citizen responder.
We also need more defibrillators to be available. Go to hjartstartarregistret.se
to see where your nearest defibrillator is!
You can help to save lives!!
Anders Strömbäck is the project manager for O-Ringen 2024. He is
working to make sure all control guards out in the terrain have had
CPR training, which means 400-500 volunteer officials will have
attended CPR courses this spring in
preparation for O-Ringen.
– There will be over 20 defibrillators
available during O-Ringen week, so
we’re doing what we can to ensure
a safe environment for hearts, says
Anders Strömbäck.
Stefan Jutterdal with a defibrillator Photo: hjartuppropet.se
1. Check consciousness
Take hold of the person’s shoulders, shake gently and
try to wake them. Shout “Hello, are you awake?” If
there is no response, check breathing.
2. Check breathing
Check if the person is breathing normally. Open their
airway by putting one hand on their forehead, tilting
their head backwards and lifting their chin with the
other hand, with two fingers under the chin. Put your
ear to the person’s nose and mouth, listen for breathing
and check if their chest is rising and falling. If
the person has abnormal breathing or isn’t breathing
at all (or if you’re not sure), assume it’s a cardiac
arrest..
3. Phone 112
If the person is unconscious and not breathing normally/at
all, alert 112 using speakerphone. The operator will
help you perform CPR. Start with 30 chest compressions,
followed by two breaths.
4. Perform chest compressions
Place the heel of your hand in the middle of the chest
and put your other hand over it. Interlace your fingers.
With straight arms, push down at least 5 cm on the
chest, but not more than 6 cm. Repeat 30 times at a
rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
5. Give breaths
Open the airway: lift the chin and tilt the head back.
Put one hand on the forehead, tilt the head back and
lift the chin with the first two fingers of the other hand.
Pinch the person’s nose, open your mouth wide so you
take the whole of their mouth in yours and blow in
air until their chest rises. Perform two breaths. If you
cannot or don’t want to do this, it’s better to perform
only chest compressions than to do nothing. Chest
compressions alone can be very effective, especially
during the first minutes..
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5
Continue these steps until the emergency services arrive
and take over, or the person is breathing normally.
Minimise any breaks in CPR.
7. Fetch a defibrillator
If there are several responders working together, one
should begin CPR and another should phone 112 and
then fetch the nearest defibrillator. Connect it and follow
the spoken instructions. You can find your nearest
defibrillator at hjartstartarregistret.se
64 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • 2024 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • 2024 65