Participating in a resuscitation attempt—whether as a witness or by performing CPR—can leave you with many questions and complex emotions. Resuscitation attempt support helps you process this experience and understand that feeling distressed or guilty is entirely normal.
If you actively contributed to the emergency response, remember to take pride in your life-saving efforts. However, seeking resuscitation attempt support remains vital for processing the trauma that anyone involved may experience. You are not alone in this journey, and help is available.
This resource provides information about resuscitation and the responses of those involved, and is also available as a downloadable leaflet (see below).
What happened?
Understanding the medical situation helps make sense of your experience and why resuscitation attempt support is essential. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating and normal breathing ceases. In this critical scenario, every second counts for survival.
The Chain of Survival activates key emergency response links, giving the collapsed person the best chance of recovery. Calling for help, providing CPR, or retrieving a defibrillator are all vital links in this chain. When paramedics arrive, they take over patient care from those who provided crucial first-response assistance.
During cardiac arrest, the person collapses and may exhibit jerking movements resembling a seizure. Initial gasping breaths occur as the body attempts to obtain oxygen despite being unable to breathe normally. Without sufficient oxygen, the person may turn blue.
Once CPR begins, several potentially confusing or distressing but normal events may occur, including rib fractures, ongoing movements, eye-opening, or vomiting. Defibrillator shocks may also be attempted to restore normal heart rhythm.
Is a heart attack the same as a cardiac arrest?
These terms are often confused but describe different emergencies. A heart attack is a “plumbing” problem where blood flow to the heart becomes blocked. Sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem where the heart’s electrical system malfunctions unexpectedly, causing it to stop beating normally.
What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) involves providing chest compressions to maintain blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body. While trained professionals may perform mouth-to-mouth breathing, evidence shows that hands-only CPR is most effective for laypersons. Performing CPR significantly improves cardiac arrest survival chances.
What is a defibrillator?
A defibrillator delivers high-energy electric shocks to someone in cardiac arrest. This defibrillation is essential for attempting to save lives, though not all cardiac arrests can be treated this way. Even when present, defibrillators may not always be used. These devices may be called defibs, AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators), or PADs (Public Access Defibrillators).
What happens to the patient now?
Paramedics assess and treat patients based on multiple factors, including age, CPR timing, arrest duration, monitor readings, and medical history. If the heart restarts, patients are taken to hospital intensive care units for investigation into the causes of the arrest and its effects on the brain and body.
When hearts cannot be restarted, patients may be transferred to hospitals with ongoing CPR if interventions unavailable to paramedics might help. Unfortunately, due to illness severity leading to cardiac arrest, fewer than 1 in 10 people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest events.
Did You Do the Right Thing?
Whatever your role in the resuscitation attempt—performing CPR, calling emergency services, supporting others, or any other action—you significantly increased the person’s chances of survival. Doing nothing provides no chance, but taking action could save a life. Without intervention, survival is impossible; therefore, any action you take can only benefit the person.
This understanding is central to resuscitation attempt support, recognising that your efforts were valuable regardless of the outcome.
Physical and Emotional Responses
Immediate Stress Response
Witnessing or participating in resuscitation attempts creates very stressful, traumatic experiences. Your body undergoes stress responses, producing hormones like adrenaline, which can create effects sometimes referred to as ‘hyperarousal’—feeling constantly on edge.
Typical symptoms at this stage include headaches, light-headedness, sweating, nervousness, and time distortion. These hormones typically break down over several hours; however, symptoms may persist for days in some individuals. Avoid tasks requiring quick thinking, such as driving, while experiencing these symptoms.
Processing the Experience
In the initial weeks, thoughts often fixate on the event. Flashbacks or recurring dreams are common, potentially disrupting sleep and causing irritability and difficulties with concentration. Quality resuscitation attempt support encourages discussing experiences with trusted individuals who can provide reassurance and help process what you witnessed.
Learning more about what happened can be helpful, and improving sleep patterns while considering mindfulness practices (such as the Headspace app) supports recovery.
When Professional Resuscitation Attempt Support is Needed
A small percentage of people experience severe symptoms, including intrusive, distressing flashbacks, hopelessness, guilt, or avoidance of daily activities. While these are normal reactions to traumatic events, they indicate a need for additional resuscitation attempt support.
In such situations, seek professional help through your GP or self-referral to counselling services specialised in trauma support.
Accessing Comprehensive Resuscitation Attempt Support
Online Resources
This website provides extensive cardiac arrest information and after-effects guidance. While primarily targeting survivors and their families, the information helps to understand the impacts of resuscitation attempts and supports recovery.
Peer Support Communities
Peer support communities offer invaluable assistance for processing experiences. Specialised Facebook groups provide resuscitation attempt support:
- Chain of Survival UK: For anyone who participated in resuscitation attempts
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK: For survivors and their families
Additional Support Materials
Download the comprehensive Chain of Survival booklet for detailed information about cardiac arrest response and recovery support. This resource complements ongoing efforts to support resuscitation attempts.
Moving Forward with Resuscitation Attempt Support
Remember that seeking support for resuscitation attempts demonstrates strength, not weakness. The trauma of participating in life-or-death situations affects everyone differently, and professional support helps process these experiences healthily.
Your actions during the emergency made a difference. With proper support for resuscitation attempts, you can work through any difficult emotions and understand the valuable role you played in someone’s critical moment.
Whether you need immediate emotional support, want to better understand medical aspects, or require long-term counselling, comprehensive resuscitation attempt support resources are available to help you heal and move forward.