India, Oct. 12 -- When a person suddenly collapses, the actions taken immediately can greatly affect the outcome. However, not everyone is aware of what exactly is to be done in that situation, and being stunned also stops one from taking immediate action.

While seeking medical help is wise, in many cases, the outcome is decided before the ambulance reaches the door, shared cardiac surgeon Dr Santosh Gupta with HT Lifestyle.

"Once the heart stops pumping, the brain begins to suffer damage within minutes," he stated, "Yet the nearest person, who is often the only available responder, is rarely prepared to act."

In case such a situation ever arises, Dr Gupta shared what to do in the first five minutes after a person collapses to give the...