Would you know what to do if a colleague collapsed with a heart attack? And would you feel confident that you would get help if you fell ill?

Worryingly it appears that the answer would be a resounding no to both questions according to the findings of a new survey.

More than a third of Britons would not know what to do if they saw someone collapse with a suspected heart attack and one in 10 would take no action other than to wait for medical assistance.

But by the time help has arrived, the victim's heart may have stopped beating.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) commissioned the poll and the findings showed that 87 per cent of the population recognised that most heart attacks and cardiac arrests happened outside hospital, the vast majority happening in the home. But less than one per cent of people in this country were trained in emergency life support (ELS) skills.

Of those who did want to help, more than half did not feel confident enough to carry out the basic life saving technique, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, (CPR), which includes 'mouth-to-mouth' and heart massage.

Most said their unwillingness was due to lack of training and fear of doing the wrong thing.

This general lack of knowledge was borne out on Channel 4 show Big Brother last week when contestants almost failed their weekly task which was to learn first aid technique.

Although they proved adequate at bandaging and burns,they nearly came a cropper when administering CPR.

A BHF initiative, Heartstart UK, last year supervised the training of more than 125,000 people in life saving skills.

Heartstart UK's free ELS courses teach people how to recognise a heart attack and carry out CPR techniques as well as how to deal with choking, serious bleeding and someone who is unconscious.

So, how can you spot that somebody is having a heart attack and what can you do to help them?

Heart attacks can be identified as the victim suffers a crushing pain in the chest which often wraps around the body like a tight band.

This may spread to, or just affect, the arms, throat, neck, jaw, back or stomach and it does not go away with rest.

The person may also be breathless, look pale and sweaty, feel sick, weak or dizzy.

You should get help immediately, especially if the pain has lasted more than 15 minutes. Sit the person in a comfortable position, telephone 999 for an ambulance and then phone their doctor.

To help an unconscious person you should use CPR which could be vital to their survival.

Approach them with care. Then gently shake and shout loudly "Are you alright?". If there is no response shout for help and follow this procedure.

CPR:

Open the airway by tilting their head back and lifting the chin.

Look, listen and feel for signs of breathing.

If unconscious and not breathing telephone 999 for an ambulance and then turn casualty on to their back.

Keep airway open and give two rescue breaths. This is done by pinching the nose closed. Take a breath and make a firm seal around the mouth and breathe steadily into casualty. Make sure chest rises and falls.

Check circulation. Look, listen and feel for normal breathing, coughing or movement. If there are no signs of circulation or you are unsure start chest compression.

Find the lower half of the breastbone.

Place the heel of one hand there and the heel of the other hand on top.

Interlock your fingers. Depress and release breastbone 4cm to 5cm, 15 times.

Do this at the rate of about 100 per minute - that is faster than one per second.

Repeat two breaths and 15 compressions.

You should keep going until the casualty shows signs of life, professional help arrives or you become exhausted.

More information about the courses can be obtained by calling the BHF campaign hotline on 0870 9090 111.