What happens when yourheart and breathing stops

This is an EasyRead version of:Decisions aboutcardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)September 2011

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About this leaflet

This leaflet tells you about what happensif your heart stops and how it might bestarted again. This is called CPR for short.

Your family, friends and support workersmight want to read this leaflet as well.

If you have any more questions after youhave read this leaflet, you can ask thepeople who support you to talk to yourhealth care team.

What is CPR?

If your heart stops working and you stopbreathing, CPR may help start your heartagain.

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When someone does CPR, they may:

l push down on your chest very firmlyand lots of times

l use electric shocks on your chest

l put a mask over your nose and mouthto help you to breathe

l put a tube into your mouth to help youto breathe.

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Does everyone get better after CPR?

Everyone is different. Some people getbetter and some people will still be ill.

Sometimes people are not able to get yourheart and breathing to start again.

Will my illness mean my heart andbreathing stop working?

Everyone is different. Your health team willtalk to you about your illness and whetheryour heart and breathing might stopworking one day.

They can tell you what might happen.

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If I need CPR, will I get better?

Lots of things make a difference towhether you get better or not:

l why your heart and breathing havestopped working

l if you are ill or have been ill before

l how good your health is.

?

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It is not important how old you are or ifyou have a disability.

These things are important:

l how good your health is

l what you want to happen

l whether the right people are able tomake what you want happen.

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Who will decide if I have CPR?

You and your doctor will decide if youshould have CPR if your heart andbreathing stop working.

Your health care team (HCT) will look atwhether CPR is right for you or not.

Sometimes, people who have had theirheart and breathing started again maynot fully recover or may not get better.

It is important your health care teamknow what you think about having CPR.

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What if I do not want to decide?

You do not have to talk about this if you donot want to.

If you feel someone is making you decidetoo quickly, you do not have to decidestraight away.

If you find it difficult to decide, you canspeak to your family and friends.

If you cannot decide, your doctor canspeak to you and then decide for youthinking about what you have said.

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What if I cannot decide and myheart and breathing stop working?

Your doctor will decide what to do.

The health care team may speak to yourfamily and friends to find out what youwant to happen. Your family and friendscannot decide for you.

If there are people you do or do not wantus to speak to, you should tell the healthcare team.

What if I do not want CPR?

If you have already decided you do notwant CPR and your heart and breathingstop working, the health care team willstill make sure you have the right care butthey will not do CPR.

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You need to write down that you do notwant CPR and sign it. Someone who hasseen you sign the paper must also sign tosay this. This is called an advancedstatement.

You will not get CPR until you say you wantit again.

You need to tell the health care team andthey will take a copy. They will make sureyour doctor’s notes say that you do notwant CPR.

If it has been decided I will not haveCPR, what happens?

The health care team will carry on givingyou the best care and treatment.

The decision will be written in your notes.

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What if I want CPR to be tried,but my doctor says it will not work?

You cannot make doctors do somethingthat will not work. But they will try CPR ifthere is even a chance it will work.

If they think that CPR will not work, thehealth care team will ask someone else tocome and see if they agree or not.

They will listen to what you and yourfriends and family have to say.

What if things change or I changemy mind?

Every time you are checked in hospital, thedecisions about your health and what youwant to do are checked.

You can change your mind at any time.You can speak to any of the health careteam looking after you.

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Can I see what’s written about me?

You can see any information that iswritten down about you. You can ask thehealth care team to show you. They canexplain anything you do not understand.

The law says you can look at thisinformation and you can have a copy of it.Sometimes, you might need to pay forthis.

Who else can I talk to?

You can telephone The Spiritual Care teamat any time day or night:

0151 426 1600

Patient advice and liaison service (PALS):

0151 430 1144

or:

017444 646465

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If you feel you have not been able tospeak to the health care team in the wayyou would like to, or you are unhappyabout anything, you can contact:

They can help you or your family or friendswith anything you want to say or ask or ifyou want to make a complaint.

Where can I get more information?

Resuscitation Council (UK)

Telephone:

020 7388 4678

Website:

www.resus.org.uk

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Age UK

Telephone

0800 169 6565

Website:

www.ageuk.org.uk

To contact us:

Resuscitation services

Telephone:

0151 430 1888

Or:

0151 430 1724

Whiston HospitalWarrington RoadPrescotL35 5DR

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Credits

This paper has been designed andproduced by the EasyRead service atInspired Services Publishing Ltd. RefISL171/11. September 2011.

Artwork is from the Valuing People Clipartcollection and cannot be used anywhereelse without written permission fromInspired Services Publishing Ltd.

To contact Inspired Services:

www.inspiredservices.org.uk