Be prepared for your holidays: think about your safety!
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how to cpr

It's June which means it’s almost time for the summer holidays. Have you already packed your suitcase? Then there is one thing you should not forget: your safety and the safety of those around you. Be 100% prepared for your holiday with the tips in this blog.

Signs to recognise

An emergency can happen at any time, even when you are enjoying the sun at your holiday destination. A cardiac arrest can happen anywhere: at home, at work and of course also on holiday.

How do you recognise a cardiac arrest? Often a person becomes unconscious within seconds and is no longer breathing normally. The person may also look a little pale. These are just some of the signs to recognise and take action immediately!

What should you do?

If you see a person having a cardiac arrest, it is vital to help them as quickly as possible. First of all, check if the person responds to your talking. If not, call the emergency services immediately. Please note that each country has a different emergency number. Are you abroad? Then make sure you know the emergency number of that country!

Then proceed to resuscitation. Have you never done it before? Try to do it as well as you can, or check if there are any bystanders who can do it (together with you if necessary). It is vital to start resuscitation as soon as possible, because every second counts! In addition, using an AED increases the chance of survival, so if there is one in the neighbourhood, tell someone to go and get it.

Be prepared

Of course, you hope for a carefree holiday, but should something happen, it is helpful to keep the following in mind: 

  • Save the emergency number of your holiday destination in your phone, so you can easily call for help in case of emergency;
  • CPR includes mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The DefiSign Kiss of Life is a simple breathing mask, which is handy to have with;
  • Take your health insurance card with you, so that you will not be met with unpleasant surprises when you get home;
  • Be prepared to save a life by taking a CPR course. This way, you can be of value in case of an emergency on holiday or wherever you are!