Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) - also known as ventricular fibrillation (VF) - is an electrical malfunction of the heart.

The regular, systematic pumping action of the heart’s chambers stops because the normal electrical signal that runs through the heart in a prescribed sequence has been interrupted for some reason. Electrical chaos ensues, and results in uncontrolled, non-productive quivering of the heart chambers.

The victim collapses, is unconscious, not breathing and without circulation.

Death is imminent without rapid defibrillation – via an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Leading cause of death in the North America and Europe.

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that between 225,000 - 300,000 people die suddenly each year in the U.S. from coronary heart disease, most before ever reaching a hospital.

An estimated additional 350,000 - 750,000 patients annually experience a cardiac arrest and undergo attempted resuscitation during hospitalization.

Many causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The bottom line is that anyone, at any age, can become a victim of sudden cardiac arrest

• congenital defects
• illness
• heart attack
• environmental conditions
• violent blows - A hard blow to the chest can knock a healthy youngster or a well-conditioned athlete, into cardiac arrest.
• Dehydration or heat exertion
• Most drowning victims go into cardiac arrest

Early Access to AEDs and Survival Rates
Early access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death if your patient is suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

• The only definitive therapy for returning a heart in VF to its normal rhythm is defibrillation (providing a controlled electrical stimulation through a patient’s chest to restore normal heart rhythm). The efficiency of defibrillation is directly tied to how quickly it is administered.
• In general, for every minute that passes between the onset of cardiac arrest and defibrillation the probability of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent. After 10 minutes the probability of survival is extremely low.
• If you call 911 immediately at the onset of SCA, a typical 6-8 minute response time may not be fast enough
• Less than 5% of SCA victims survive with CPR alone.

The American Heart Association in conjunction with other major resuscitation councils around the world recently acknowledged that providing rapid defibrillation therapy is the single most important factor in determining the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest victims.

Can I Hurt Someone with an AED?
No!
First, a victim of SCA is essentially dead. Early defibrillation represents that person’s only chance for survival.
Second, AEDs will not shock someone who does not need to be shocked.
It’s that simple.