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Sudden Cardiac Arrest death rate is greater than for stroke, lung cancer, breast cancer, etc.  added 06/23/01
from Survivalink.com

Sudden Cardiac Arrest
In the United States, more than 350,000 people die annually from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) before reaching a hospital. This death toll is equivalent to more than 1,000 people each day, or the population of a mid-size city, like Minneapolis, Corpus Christi, Honolulu, Stamford or Fresno.

In fact, SCA is far more common than any other cause of death, as this chart indicates.
 

Causes and Effects of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The most common cause of SCA is ventricular fibrillation -- a lethal arrhythmia characterized by rapid, chaotic contractions of the heart. While in ventricular fibrillation, the heart is unable to pump life-sustaining oxygenated blood to vital parts of the body, particularly the brain.

While there are many contributing factors, SCA can strike people at any time, whether or not they have a diagnosed heart condition. According to the American Heart Association® (AHA), factors contributing to SCA include:

  • Pre-diagnosed heart disease.
  • Degeneration of the heart muscle.
  • Enlargement of the heart due to high blood pressure.
  • Hardening of the arteries.

Death from SCA is sudden and unexpected, occurring instantly or shortly after the onset of symptoms.

Why is Early Defibrillation Important?
In many cases, SCA can be reversed with early defibrillation -- the use of a defibrillator to shock the heart back into normal rhythm by means of an electric current. To be most effective, defibrillation must occur as soon as possible after the onset of SCA.

  • Published studies have proven that early defibrillation, within the first few minutes of SCA, can save up to 30 percent of victims.
  • According to the AHA, each minute of delay in delivering a defibrillation shock to a cardiac arrest victim reduces the chances of survival by 10 percent.
  • The average response time nationally for emergency medical personnel equipped with defibrillators is 10 minutes, making access to defibrillators on-site or in first-responder vehicles (police cars, fire trucks, etc.) extremely important.
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) works to temporarily circulate blood to vital organs. However, CPR alone rarely restores a patient's heart to a healthy rhythm.
  • The AHA states that the definitive survival treatment for an SCA victim is a defibrillation shock.

Who Can Operate an AED?
Unlike manual defibrillators used in hospitals and by paramedics, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are easy to operate. The new generation of AEDs analyzes the victim's condition and, if warranted, delivers an electric shock to the heart to reverse SCA. Nearly anyone with proper training can use these devices.
 
Legal liability associated with the use of an AED still varies from state to state, but increasingly, "Good Samaritan" laws are being passed to protect people who use AEDs. In addition, a growing number of agencies offer training courses that combine CPR certification and AED training. Many of these courses are under four hours. Contact your local AHA, National Safety Council or Survivalink for information on liability and training courses in your area.

Other SCA items on web

: www.paramedic.on.ca/ FIRSTRESPONSE3.htm