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This week we\u2019re dedicating the programme to a common medical emergency \u2013 one that can be deadly within minutes without the right help to hand. A cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. \n \nWe\u2019ll hear from a doctor who battled for five hours to save a man 40,000ft up in the air; a student who\u2019s teaching people not to be afraid to help in an emergency and we\u2019ll hear a survivor\u2019s story of life after cardiac arrest.\n \nGlobally, there are tens of thousands of cardiac arrests outside of hospital every year. Fewer than one in 10 survive and this number varies depending on where you live, as does the availability of life-saving defibrillators \u2013 our studio guest Dr Belinda Fenty tells us more.\n \nCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the first few minutes after the heart stops beating can be crucial. We have a live demo from a volunteer with UK charity St John Ambulance.\n \nJoin us for an action-packed programme that might just help you save a life.

Image: Dr Vishwaraj Vemala is thanked by the captain of the Air India flight after he saved a fellow passenger\u2019s life \n \nPresenter: Smitha Mundasad\nProducer: Gerry Holt