Every minute you wait to act, the chance of someone surviving cardiac arrest drops by about 10%.

Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster, and today you'll learn how your hands,

and a bit of confidence, can keep blood flowing until help arrives. I'm Alara Sky. Together, we're

breaking down why quick, decisive action from you can turn a dire

situation around. What distinguishes a heart attack from cardiac arrest and how simple tools like

hands-only CPR and automated external defibrillators or AEDs dramatically improve survival.

First, let's draw that crucial line. When you hear cardiac arrest

and heart attack, what's actually happening inside your chest? A heart attack is a blockage

starving part of your heart muscle of blood. You'll usually stay conscious at first and feel

crushing pain. Cardiac arrest is an electrical failure. Your heart's rhythm quits.

Blood flow stops. You collapse. And you lose consciousness within seconds. A heart attack can trigger

cardiac arrest, but the immediate response is different. And that response is where you, the bystander,

matter most. More than 350,000 Americans collapse from out-of-hospital

cardiac arrest each year, yet only 42% of witnesses step in with CPR. For nine out of 10

victims, paramedics simply arrive too late. Why is that 42% so critical? Because compressions by time,

for every minute without CPR, survival plunges.

Quick chest compressions keep oxygen-rich blood moving to your brain and vital organs until an AED

or professional care can restore a normal rhythm. Acting in those first two or three minutes

often spells the difference between walking out of the hospital or never regaining consciousness.

Let's get into the technique. If you're untrained, what exactly should your hands be doing when someone suddenly collapses and isn't breathing normally?

Kneel beside the person. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest.

Stack your second hand on top, lock your

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