When a heart stops, you can help

When someone collapses in cardiac arrest, their best chance of survival often depends on whoever is nearby at the time, whether it be a family member, a colleague, or a stranger at the gym. In this episode, Caroline and her guests unpack the role of bystanders during a cardiac arrest, and why some people act fast while others may freeze up. Dr. Katie Dainty, a professor of public health at the University of Toronto with a funded research focus on bystander intervention and support, helps to outline the key steps people should take if they find themselves witnessing a cardiac event, explaining why rapid intervention is crucial. Listeners will also hear stories from Lauren Carruthers, a woman who survived a cardiac arrest thanks to the intervention of bystanders, and Andrea Davis, a woman who saved her husband by performing prompt CPR during his cardiac arrest. Learn the basics of CPR at heartandstroke.ca/CPR to potentially save a life in an emergency.