Many users turn to voice assistants like Alexa and Siri for everyday things like checking the weather or getting sports updates. However, technology experts warn against using these devices for serious consultations, especially in emergency situations.

A recent study revealed that when asked about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), only 59% of voice assistants' answers included relevant information, and only a third provided clear instructions about the procedure.

The research included tests on assistants such as Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana, which were evaluated by emergency physicians. Experts stress that in the event of a medical emergency, the priority should be to call emergency services (112) and not rely on voice assistants.

The National Health Service recommends:

What should I do for a victim of cardiorespiratory arrest?

When you encounter a victim of cardiorespiratory arrest, you should:

• Call 112 immediately to request assistance.
• Initiate basic life support maneuvers.
  • If there are two resuscitators, and one calls 112 and requests assistance, the other must immediately begin basic life support maneuvers.
• If you have access to an automatic external defibrillator, you can use it safely.

Basic life support consists of two processes: chest compressions (cardiac massage) to circulate blood and ventilation to provide oxygen to the lungs.

How to provide basic life support?

Basic life support (BLS) includes the following steps:

• Place the victim on his back on a hard surface (for example, the floor).
• Place your hands overlapping with fingers interlaced in the center of the victim's chest.
• Keeping your arms straight and perpendicular to the victim's body, compress the chest and release: Repeat this compression and release motion 30 times.
• After 30 compressions, perform two ventilations through the victim's mouth: fill the lungs with air and exhale into the victim's mouth, covering his nose with your fingers and isolating the victim's lips with yours, so that no air leakage occurs. In cases where ventilation is not possible, perform compressions only.
• After mechanical ventilation, resume compressions and always follow the sequence of 30 chest compressions with 2 ventilations. Continue maneuvering until help arrives or the victim recovers.