Normally there is no measurable, meaningful brain activity after the heart stops beating. Within two to 20 seconds the brain “flatlines.”
“As soon as the heart stops, you not only lose consciousness and your brain stem reflexes are all gone, but also the electricity that your brain creates slows down immediately, and within about 2 to 20 seconds it completely flatlines.”
"In this case, consciousness and awareness appeared to occur during a three-minute period when there was no heartbeat. "This is paradoxical, since the brain typically ceases functioning within 20-30 seconds of the heart stopping and doesn't resume again until the heart has been restarted.
A constant supply of fresh blood is required to keep the brain alive and functioning properly. When blood supply stops, the brain shuts down, including its respiratory center. So, when the heart stops, so does breathing, usually within a minute or less.
For most people, the first sign of SCA is fainting or a loss of consciousness, which happens when the heart stops beating. Breathing may also stop at this time. Some people may experience dizziness or lightheadedness just before they faint.
[26][27] This recommendation has led to many departments implementing rules for termination of resuscitation that include providing at least 20 minutes of on-scene CPR.
Brain death can happen when the blood or oxygen supply to the brain is stopped. This can be caused by: cardiac arrest – when the heart stops beating and the brain is starved of oxygen.
In time, the heart stops and they stop breathing. Within a few minutes, their brain stops functioning entirely and their skin starts to cool. At this point, they have died.
There's a difference between brain death and a vegetative state, which can occur after extensive brain damage. Someone in a vegetative state can show signs of wakefulness – for example, they may open their eyes, but not respond to their surroundings.
The blood from the heart then fails to reach the brain to sustain it. This means all the reflexes of the base of the brain including “gag reflex” or “pupil reflex in the eyes” are all lost almost instantaneously.
The longest marathon CPR session (individual) is 1 day and 2 hours, and was achieved by Alexandra Broadley (UK), in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, UK, on 1 December 2021.
When to Stop Giving CPR. Once you take on the responsibility of a volunteer rescuer, it is your duty to see it through. You cannot simply stop providing CPR because you feel like it. Doing so is gross negligence, and therefore not protected by Good Samaritan law.
For every 60 seconds that pass, chances of surviving drops by 10% without CPR or defibrillation. After just 4 minutes, brain damage begins to occur. After 10 minutes, it is unlikely they can be saved.
When SCA occurs, the AHA recommends defibrillation within 3-5 minutes, or sooner. On average, EMS teams take 6-12 minutes to arrive. Survival rates drop 10% as each minute passes without defibrillation.
Permanent brain damage begins after only 4 minutes without oxygen, and death can occur as soon as 4 to 6 minutes later. Machines called automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be found in many public places, and are available for home use.
Proper steps for performing CPR and using an AED on women
Remove all clothing from the patient's chest – this includes swimsuits, bras, sports bras, tank tops, and regular tops. If you need to, you can cut through clothing with the shears included in an AED's response kit. Be sure to cut away from the person's face.
Studies have shown that there is almost no chance that you will hurt the person. While it is rare that a rib will be broken during CPR, doctors are able to repair broken ribs, but they cannot repair death.
NO adverse effects have been reported. Based on the available evidence, it appears that the fear of doing harm by giving chest compressions to some who has no signs of life, but has a beating heart, is unfounded.
Research has shown that doing chest compressions, without rescue breaths, can circulate that oxygen and be as effective in doing it as traditional compression/rescue breath CPR for the first few minutes. This is where the idea of eliminating rescue breaths got started.
The longest that the heart stopped before restarting on its own was four minutes and 20 seconds.
15 minutes of CPR training will burn an average of 165 calories.
Visual or auditory hallucinations are often part of the dying experience. The appearance of family members or loved ones who have died is common. These visions are considered normal. The dying may turn their focus to “another world” and talk to people or see things that others do not see.
It's normal to see, hear or sense someone who has died. While this might be scary and unsettling, it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you.
Once the death has been verified, if there is a mortuary at the hospice or hospital, the person's body may be moved to the mortuary, or if there is no mortuary on site, the funeral director will collect their body.