What is a Cardiac Arrest? Could you help someone? Find out.

In light of the recent incident involving Christian Eriksen. DAC Education wishes him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the pitch soon. We also wish to show our support to the medics who did a great job.

What is a Heart attack?

People have contacted us asking us about First Aid and in particularly Cardiac arrest First Aid. To help, here is a quick overview and explanation of Heart Attacks and Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

A heart attack is when the heart is in major trauma, this is caused by the heart being starved of blood and therefore oxygen, due to a blockage or restrictions within the blood vessels surrounding the heart. This can lead to a cardiac arrest, one of the most common causes of death in adults in the UK. But heart problems affect children as well as adults.

A blockage or restriction is normally caused by the closing of the blood vessels around or near to the heart. This can be caused by a thrombus formation, commonly known as a blood clot in the blood vessels. Or Atherosclerotic plaque building causing a narrowing of the blood vessels restricting blood flow.

Heart attacks are very serious, and could lead to the heart arresting at any time, known as a Cardiac Arrest. There are around 125,000 people who suffer heart attacks every year in the UK. A big problem with heart attacks is that the patient will often not accept they are having a heart attack, and delay seeking treatment. As they don’t believe or do not understand what's happening to them, often they just blame it on indigestion.

Common Signs and Symptoms of a Heart attack are:

Pain in chest which is worsening.
Pain in arm usually the left
Pain in Jaw and neck
Shortness of breath
Pale grey and sweaty skin
Vomit or nausea
Extreme fright, denial and fear

First Aid Treatment for a Heart Attack

Sit them down on the floor, back against the wall, knees up, bum 6-8 inches away from the wall. The "W" position
Activate the emergency medical services.
Calm and reassure, try to get them to slow their breathing.
Get the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to you.
If they fall unconscious, then open the AED, turn it on and do as it tells you.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

A Sudden Cardiac arrest or SCA is different from a heart attack. A heart attack often will lead to a cardiac arrest. Whereas a SCA misses the heart attack part and goes straight into Ventricular fibrillation (VF). This is likely what Christian Eriksen experienced.

VF is where the heart spasms, quivers, leading to a lack of pulse and therefore ineffective “pumping”. Breathing will stop and the casualty will lose consciousness.

There are around 75,000 deaths due to sudden cardiac arrest in the UK every year. Survival rate out of hospital is about 10%. But in the right setting with the right equipment, and the correct training the chances get better.

If a casualty has an AED applied and shocked within 1 minute then there is a 80% chance that an AED will restart the heart into a normal rhythm. At 4 minutes there is 60% chance, at 7 minutes 20% and at 10 minutes virtually 0% chance. The fast actions from the Medics at pitch side most certainly saved his life.

Using an AED

A public use AED is designed to be used by anyone. All of them have simple voice instructions and pictures to guide you through the process of applying them to an individual. Most are semi-automatic and will tell you to press a button to shock the casualty. An AED will not shock a casualty if they do not need to be shocked.

Do you know where your nearest AED is?

What First Aid training do you need?

Your first aid provision will be dictated by your first aid needs assessment which will be completed as part of your risk assessments but....

Do you need the training to understand CPR, AEDs and other conditions in your work place? Do you need to have the correct equipment? Or do you need help to work out a First Aid needs assessment?

DAC Education Ltd can provide a First Aid solution and training so that your sports club, office staff or school don’t have to worry about the what if.

Check out our first aid training page

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First Aid Training in Suffolk: Why DAC Education is Leading the Way

by David Coyle • 25 June 2025

At DAC Education, we believe that everyone deserves the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency. Whether you're a business owner looking to meet health and safety requirements, a parent wanting to protect your little ones, or an individual aiming to boost your CV, our first aid training in Suffolk is designed to meet your needs—professionally and accessibly. First Aid at Work in Suffolk – Training that Saves Lives Employers across the UK are legally obligated to ensure their workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to deal with medical emergencies. Our First Aid at Work Suffolk courses are specifically developed to meet HSE (Health and Safety Executive) standards and can be delivered either at our training centre in Suffolk or at your place of work. With our experienced trainers, real-world scenarios, and hands-on practical learning, your staff will leave the course feeling empowered and confident to respond effectively in emergency situations. One Day First Aid Training Suffolk – Quick, Comprehensive, and Effective Short on time? We’ve got you covered. Our One Day First Aid Training in Suffolk is ideal for individuals or businesses who want a concise, effective course that covers essential lifesaving skills without compromising on quality. In just one day, learners will gain practical knowledge in CPR, use of an AED, wound management, dealing with burns, shock, and much more. This course is particularly popular with small businesses, sports coaches, and community group leaders. Paediatric First Aid Course Suffolk – Designed for Those Who Care for Children Caring for children comes with great responsibility—and we’re here to support you. Our Paediatric First Aid Course in Suffolk is perfect for early years professionals, childminders, nursery staff, and parents. The course complies with Ofsted and EYFS requirements and focuses on emergencies that commonly affect babies and young children. We cover everything from choking, allergic reactions, febrile seizures, to infant and child CPR, ensuring you leave prepared and confident. Realistic First Responder Training – Powered by Live Actors One of the features that truly sets DAC Education apart is our use of professional actors in certain first responder and advanced first aid courses. These carefully designed simulations bring high-stress, high-impact emergency scenarios to life in a safe, controlled learning environment. By using live actors to portray injuries and emotional responses, learners are tested not just on their technical skills, but on their ability to manage stress, communicate under pressure, and think clearly in real-time. It’s an incredibly effective way to build confidence, decision-making ability, and emotional resilience. These realistic scenarios are especially valuable in our advanced lone worker, trauma response, and major incident courses, helping to better prepare participants for real-world emergencies. Meet Our Award-Winning Lead Instructor At the heart of DAC Education’s success is our award-winning lead instructor, whose reputation for delivering engaging, impactful, and industry-recognised training sets us apart. With years of frontline experience and national recognition for excellence in education and training delivery, our lead instructor brings both expertise and passion to every session. Whether you’re a first-time learner or attending for a refresher, you’ll benefit from instruction that is not only informative and compliant—but genuinely inspiring. Why Choose DAC Education? Award-Winning Training: Learn from an instructor who has been nationally recognised for excellence in training delivery. Experienced Trainers : Our team brings a wealth of real-world experience and a friendly, professional approach. Live Simulations: Realism is key. Our use of trained actors enhances learning and retention in critical courses. Flexible Delivery : Choose from on-site training at your premises or at our dedicated Suffolk training centre. Fully Accredited : All of our courses are fully certified and meet UK industry and regulatory standards. Tailored to You : We can customise training to your work environment or specific risk factors. Book Your Training Today Join the growing number of individuals and businesses across East Anglia and Nationwide choosing DAC Education for their first aid at work in Suffolk, one day first aid training in Suffolk, and paediatric first aid courses in Suffolk. Let’s work together to build safer, more prepared communities—one course at a time. 👉 Get in touch to book your training or learn more about our upcoming course dates in Suffolk.