What is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac Arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. It is an electrical problem that prevents the heart from pumping blood to the brain, lungs, and other organs.
- 350,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States every year
- Over 70% of victims go into cardiac arrest at home
- Only 40% of cardiac arrest individuals received the immediate help they needed prior to the arrival of EMS
- Performing CPR immediately and utilizing an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) when it is available can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival
- It takes less than 90 seconds to learn how to perform CPR and save a life
What Happens?
A person becomes unresponsive, is not breathing or is only gasping. Death occurs within minutes if the victim does not receive treatment. Cardiac arrest can be reversible in some victims if it’s treated within a few minutes. First, call 911 and start CPR right away. Then, if an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use it as soon as possible. If two people are available to help, one should begin CPR immediately while the other calls 911 and finds an AED.
American Heart Association. www.heart.org. July 1st, 2015- January 29th, 2021.