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Sudden Cardiac Arrest News

04/04/2008 — iPods and Other Digital Media Players Safe for ICD Patients
04/01/2008 — AEDs and CPR Are Equally Helpful for SCA in the Home
04/01/2008 — AHA Recommends Hands-Only CPR for Bystanders

03/26/2008 — Calling All Heroes - SCA Foundation Announces Call for Nominations for “People Saving People” Awards
03/25/2008 — New York Legislature on a Mission to Save Lives

More News >>

Why We're Here

Reporter Fred Anklam, 48 at the time, was at work when it happened to him. Tracey Conway, 38, was performing a comedy routine when it was her turn. Nick Giorgione, 13, was at football practice. Virginia Monahan, 57, was rushing to catch her plane. Henry Jampel, MD, 44, was swimming laps. Dick Bylund, 50, was at his son's football game. Paula Opheim, 20, was jogging on campus (Read Paula's personal story in the discussion forum). Ethan Miller, 12, was jumping on a trampoline. Amanda Trevathan, 17, was in math class. Jim Baum, 64, was visiting with family and friends at home. Kelli Harris, 27, was working out at a health club.

What do these people have in common? They all suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Without any warning, their hearts stopped, they collapsed, and they were clinically dead. Unlike countless other SCA victims, they were the lucky ones. They survived, thanks to immediate intervention by bystanders and other rescuers who called 9-1-1, provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and used automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to restore a normal heartbeat.

Most SCA victims (93%), however, do not survive. Why is survival such a rare thing? The problem in large part, is a lack of awareness and basic training on the part of the public and even some health professionals. It doesn't have to be this way.

SCA is a treatable condition. Many victims can survive if they are treated quickly with a combination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. If we can increase the rate of survival from 7% to 20%, 50,000 lives could be saved each year in the U.S. alone.

The SCA Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has been established to help increase awareness about this public health crisis and reduce death and disability from SCA, through this website and other initiatives.