Immediate Response Checklist When Someone Collapses
When someone collapses, your priorities are personal safety, rapid assessment, and activating professional help. First, ensure the scene is safe for you and the person. Then check responsiveness by tapping and asking loudly, “Are you okay?” Look for normal breathing and any life-threatening conditions. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call emergency services immediately—or ask someone else to call—begin high-quality CPR, and deploy an AED if available. These actions form the core of an evidence-based response and apply whether the collapse is due to cardiac arrest, syncope, or another cause.
How to Assess Responsiveness and Breathing
Approach the person calmly and scan for safety hazards. Gently shake their shoulder and ask loudly, “Are you okay?” to check for responsiveness. If there is no response, open the airway using a head-tilt chin-lift (unless a spinal injury is suspected) and look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Agonal gasps are not normal breathing and indicate a medical emergency requiring CPR. If breathing is absent or abnormal, prioritize early defibrillation and CPR while summoning emergency medical services.
Key Assessment Indicators
| Indicator | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Responsive, breathing normally | Monitor, place in recovery position, reassess | First aid guidelines |
| Unresponsive, no normal breathing | Activate emergency system, begin CPR | Resuscitation protocols |
| Unresponsive, gasping or agonal | Treat as cardiac arrest; AED if available | Emergency medical services |
| Witnessed collapse with exertion | Higher suspicion of cardiac cause; rapid EMS dispatch | Clinical evidence |
When and How to Call Emergency Services
Call emergency services as soon as you determine the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. If you are alone, call yourself—use speakerphone so you can continue care—or send someone else to call. Clearly state the location, the number of people involved, and the observed condition. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions, which may include guiding you through CPR or AED use. Early communication with emergency services improves timing of advanced care and can clarify whether the collapse is more likely cardiac, neurological, or metabolic in origin.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Basics
High-quality CPR preserves circulation when the heart is not pumping effectively. For adults, use hard and fast compressions on the center of the chest at a rate of 100–120 per minute, allowing full chest recoil between pushes. Minimize interruptions and compress to a depth of at least 2 inches (about 5 cm). If trained and willing, provide rescue breaths in a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths, or use hands-only CPR if you are untrained or unsure. Continue CPR until an AED is ready, emergency personnel take over, or the person shows clear signs of recovery.
CPR Do and Don’t Checklist
- Do push hard and fast on the center of the chest.
- Do allow full chest recoil between compressions.
- Do minimize pauses to maintain circulation.
- Don’t lean on the chest between compressions.
- Don’t provide breaths incorrectly if untrained; hands-only CPR is better than no CPR.
- Don’t stop CPR unless it is unsafe or responders arrive.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Use
An AED analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers a shock only if a treatable rhythm is present. Turn on the AED as soon as it is available and follow its spoken and visual prompts. While the AED analyzes, ensure no one is touching the person. If a shock is advised, deliver it and immediately resume CPR, starting with compressions. If no shock is advised, continue CPR and reassess. AEDs are designed for use by laypersons and significantly improve survival when applied early in cardiac arrest.
Recovery Position and Post-Care Considerations
If the person is breathing normally and remains unresponsive after the immediate crisis, place them in the recovery position on their side to help maintain an open airway and reduce aspiration risk. Reassess breathing and responsiveness regularly until help arrives. For collapse with minor injuries, provide first aid, control bleeding, and keep the person warm and calm. If the person regains consciousness but is confused, has chest pain, difficulty breathing, or repeated collapses, seek urgent medical evaluation to identify underlying causes.