A Heart Stops Beating … now what?
If someone’s heart stops, do you know what to do? You only have minutes to really make a difference.
Join us for a free class by Pam Foster of the Hawaii Heart Foundation and find out what to do and why.
March 6th, 2027 from 4-6pm at the Clubhouse.
Registration starts February 6th. Check the website event page for the sign-up link. 20 student limit for the class.
Why CPR and an AED
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can occur without warning to anyone at any time. This is not only an old person problem and is different from a heart attack. It is one of the leading causes of death among adults in the USA. Four to five SCAs occur every day in Hawaii.
Sudden cardiac arrest happens when the normal electrical impulses in the heart become disorganized. No longer pumping, the heart is quivering – it is fibrillating. Blood is not flowing to the heart, brain and other vital organs. This person collapses suddenly and stops breathing.
Key word: Sudden. There is no warning, and without immediate care they can die. Brain damage starts within 4-6 minutes as cells start to die. Survival chances drop by roughly 7% to 10% for every minute that CPR and defibrillation are delayed
3 things are needed to save this person’s life
- Recognizing that there is a problem and calling 911 ASAP.
- Starting chest compressions ASAP
- Using an AED ASAP
Unfortunately, in Hawaii, CPR is only being performed 43.8% of the time when 911 police and/or paramedics shows up. Survival rates in Hawaii are only 13%. A bystander administering compression-only CPR can triple a person’s chance of survival, and using an AED in the first few minutes of collapse can increase survival up to 38%–90%.
CPR will provide some oxygenated blood to the brain, heart and other vital organs. But CPR alone will not start the heart in sudden cardiac arrest.
The most effective treatment for the fibrillating heart is defibrillation. An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) shocks the heart. This stops the heart and allows it to return to its normal electrical activity and pump blood once again. The AED is rebooting the heart.
Timing is key. For every minute a person is in cardiac arrest, their chance of survival drops 10%. After about 10 minutes, defibrillation is rarely successful. The heart will then go into another rhythm which will need advanced specialized care.
Since it can take more than 10 minutes before 911 arrives, it is important to defibrillate immediately. Swift AED use is key to saving a life.
Join us for this life-saving class.
March 6th, 2027 from 4-6pm at the Clubhouse.
Registration starts February 6th. Check the website event page for the sign-up link. 20 student limit for the class.
Common Sense CPR – Hawaii Heart Foundation’s Program
Below is a summary of how to respond to a SCA, as taught by the Hawaii Heart Foundation. One big change is that there is now less emphasis on breathing and more of a focus on chest compressions. So instead of the traditional definition of cardiopulmonary resuscitation being the definition for CPR, Common Sense CPR uses the following definition
C= Call 911
P= Push Hard and Fast
R= Respond with an AED
For more details and visuals of the summary below, click on Pam’s Presentation Power Point link. This is part of the excellent presentation that Pam shared at the Clubhouse October 10, 2026, AED Orientation.
DOE Common Sense CPR Presentation (Rev 112025).pdf
C= Call 911
- Tap an unresponsive person and shout are you ok?
- No response.
- Point to someone and ask them to call 911. Tell 911 that we have an unresponsive patient in cardiac arrest. Never hang-up until dispatch tells you to.
- Location: give specific location. (Add HTMC Clubhouse address to your phone contact list – 41-023 Puuone Street, Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795)
- Point to someone to go get the AED on wall next to Men’s bathroom
P= Push Hard and Fast
- Chest compression in the center of the chest. (arm pit line)
- Hard and Fast (110 times per minute). Keep elbows locked. Deep (about half their chest height)
- Allow for the chest to rise.
- Don’t stop, unless the patient says “ouch” or the AED tells you not to touch the patient.
- When you get tired, have another person switch in with minimal interruption.
- Compressions increase the chance that the shock of the AED will be effective.
R= Respond with an AED
- Turn on the AED and listen for instructions.
- Do not stop chest compression until AED tells you to stop.
- Attach pads. Look at pictures. One upper right chest. One lower left chest.
- AED will tell you “do not touch the patient” while it analyzes the heart rhythm. Stop compressions.
- If shock is advised, push the shock button.
- Immediately start chest compressions.
- 2 minutes later, the AED will analyze the heart again. Stop compressions and don’t touch the patient.
- Immediately start chest compressions.
- Keep repeating this cycle until either the patient wakes up or 911 first responders take over. If a patient wakes up, don’t remove pads, monitor and wait for 911 first responders. Start compressions if they lose consciousness again.
- After 911 first responders leave with the patient, call the AED Institute ASAP. They will come and download important info needed for the advance care of the patient and replace the pads. 911 first responders do not take HTMC’s AED. Call 808-440-8988 – AED Institute.
Come learn and practice so that you will feel confident in saving a life.
March 6th, 2027 from 4-6pm at the Clubhouse.
Registration starts February 6th. Check the website event page for the sign-up link. 20 student limit for the class.