Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a term used to describe when the heart has stopped beating
effectively. It is usually caused by an abnormal heart rhythm problem called Ventricular
Fibrillation.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States. 1,000 people
a day or as many as 350,000 people a year die from this event. Half of these events
will be experienced outside of the hospital.
Victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest will show signs that include:
-Unresponsiveness
-No Breathing
-No Heart Beat
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Sudden Cardiac Arrest can happen to people of all ages, and often without any warning.
It is most common in those over the age of 50 and usually in people who have previously
recognized heart disease, but not always. SCA can happen to anyone, at any age, and at anytime.
Be prepared.
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The key treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest is early defibrillation. This is the electrical
current that is sent through the heart to restore an organized rhythm. If the heart can be
restarted within one minute of onset then there is a 90% chance of survival. With each
passing minute the survival rate decreases by 10%.
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Now with the advent of portable, small, lightweight defibrillators anyone with proper training
can provide treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest. The device is simple to use with one or two
button usage and clear voice instructions. The AED analyzes the patient’s rhythm and when
necessary will deliver an electric shock to the heart and reverse Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Our goal is to have more people in the community who are trained and can respond to a medical
emergency by providing early defibrillation. This will greatly increase Sudden Cardiac Arrest
survival rates.
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