PITTSBURGH--October is National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, dedicated to educating the public about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and how to prevent and respond to it. 2010 is also the 50th anniversary of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), a lifesaving gift that anyone can give to a loved one or even a stranger.
SCA occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, which cuts off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Approximately 295,000 cases of SCA occur outside the hospital each year in the United States. The average survival rate is dismal--just 7%. But research confirms that in communities with strong response systems, especially an educated and empowered public, survival can be five times higher (38%).
"Anyone can help save a life," said Mary Newman, President of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. "The speed of response by bystanders often determines who will live and who will die."
Once a person suffers SCA, there is just a brief window of time to save them (about 3-5 minutes). This is why it is so important for the public to understand its critical role in saving lives. There simply is not enough time to wait for emergency medical services (EMS) providers to arrive at the scene, no matter how quick their response. Bystanders need to get the ball rolling right away--way before EMS arrives. Survival rates skyrocket if people on the scene start CPR and use the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED). Even the best EMS services cannot be there as quickly as those who are at the scene, who most often are friends or family of the victim.
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation (www.sca-aware.org), based in Pittsburgh, PA, is exclusively dedicated to raising awareness and saving lives threatened by SCA, including the promotion of CPR-AED training.
"One of our key messages is that sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack," said Norman Abramson, MD, FACEP, FCCM, Vice-Chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors and Professor Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "A heart attack is like a plumbing problem in the heart. The person is awake and the heart is still beating. Sudden cardiac arrest, on the other hand, typically is an electrical problem. The person is not awake and the heart is not beating. In the case of sudden cardiac arrest, time is of the essence."
If SCA occurs, here's what to do:
- Call 9-1-1.
- Start CPR or chest compressions. Press hard and fast on the center of the chest to the tune of the Bee Gee's hit "Stayin' Alive."
- Find and use the nearest AED. Anyone can use an AED. These devices are straightforward and intuitive and they will not shock the victim unless their heart has stopped beating. You cannot hurt the victim. Your actions can only help.
This October, why not take a class in CPR/AED training? If you ever need to use your skills, most likely it will be to save a friend or family member. This October, learn how to save a life.