Nhs alert as people told to 'call 999' to save a life

The NHS has issued an alert telling people to “call 999” in a specific situation - and it could prove life-saving. If someone is passed out and not breathing as usual, you must call

emergency services. In a new post made to X, the health body explained: “If someone is unconscious and not breathing normally, call 999 and start CPR straight away. When you call 999 for an

ambulance, you should be given basic life-saving instructions over the phone, including advice about CPR.” CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency treatment

that's done when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. CPR CAN HELP 'SAVE A LIFE' This could include if someone has suffered a heart attack or has nearly drowned.

If this is the case, CPR can help “save a life”, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. They added: “If you're afraid to do CPR or unsure how to do CPR correctly, know that it's

always better to try than to do nothing at all. The difference between doing something and doing nothing could be someone's life.” To check if a person is still breathing, the NHS says

you should: * Look to see if their chest is rising and falling * Listen over their mouth and nose for breathing sounds * Feel their breath against your cheek for 10 seconds If they're

breathing normally, place them in the recovery position so their airway remains clear of obstructions, and continue to monitor normal breathing. “Gasping or irregular breathing is not normal

breathing,” the NHS says. “If the person isn't breathing or is not breathing normally, call 999 for an ambulance and then begin CPR.” GIVING CPR TO ADULTS The NHS states that if you

have been trained in CPR, including rescue breaths, and feel confident using your skills, you should give chest compressions with rescue breaths. But if you're not completely confident,

you should attempt hands-only CPR instead. To perform hands-only CPR: * Kneel next to the person and place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of their chest. Place the

palm of your other hand on top of the hand that's on their chest and interlock your fingers * Position yourself so your shoulders are directly above your hands * Using your body weight

(not just your arms), press straight down by 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.5 inches) on their chest * Keeping your hands on their chest, release the compression and allow their chest to return to its

original position * Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute until an ambulance arrives or for as long as you can To perform CPR with rescue breaths: * Place the heel

of your hand on the centre of the person's chest, then place the palm of your other hand on top and press down by 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.5 inches) at a steady rate of 100 to 120 compressions

a minute * After every 30 chest compressions, give two rescue breaths * Tilt the person's head gently and lift the chin up with two fingers. Pinch the person's nose. Seal your

mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth for about one second. Check that their chest rises. Give two rescue breaths * Continue with cycles of 30 chest

compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives CPR ON CHILDREN If a child is unconscious, the NHS advises carrying out CPR with rescue breaths.

This is because it's “more likely” children will have a problem with their airways and breathing than a problem with their heart. Children over one year: * Open the child's airway

by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from their mouth and nose * Pinch the child's nose. Seal

your mouth over their mouth, and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths * Place the heel of one hand on the centre of

the child's chest and push down by 5cm (about 2 inches), which is approximately one-third of the chest diameter. The quality (depth) of chest compressions is very important. Use 2 hands

if you can't achieve a depth of 5cm using one hand * After every 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 a minute, give two breaths * Continue with cycles of 30 chest

compressions and two rescue breaths until the child begins to recover or emergency help arrives Infants under one year: * Open the infant's airway by placing one hand on their forehead

and gently tilting the head back and lifting their chin. Remove any visible obstructions from their mouth and nose * Place your mouth over the infant's mouth and nose and blow steadily

and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths * Place two fingers in the middle of the infant's chest and push down by 4cm (about 1.5

inches), which is approximately one-third of the chest diameter. The quality (depth) of chest compressions is very important. Use the heel of one hand if you can't achieve a depth of

4cm using the tips of two fingers * After 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 a minute, give two rescue breaths * Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue

breaths until the infant begins to recover or emergency help arrives Basic first aid courses are run regularly in most areas around the UK. Organisations that offer courses include: