The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Many athletes with cardiac conditions can return to play without high risk
A Q&A with Rachel Lampert, MD Historically, patients with certain cardiac conditions, including cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome (LQTS), have been advised not to participate in sports due to a presumption that vigorous exercise will increase their risk of life-threatening cardiac events. Over the past decade, research has shown that with… Read More
Seeking individuals who suffered cardiac arrest during half- or full- marathons
In 2012, a seminal study (attached) looking at sudden cardiac arrest in half- and full-marathons (between 2000-2010) was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. The principal investigators (Drs. Jonathan Kim and Aaron Baggish) are re-examining this question and now looking at the incidence and causes of these cases between… Read More
Can naloxone improve survival rates of patients with cardiac arrest?
UC Davis Health study identifies link between naloxone administration and outcomes of certain cardiac arrests Peer-Reviewed Publication Patients who overdose on opioids and have a pulse are often given naloxone (Narcan) by first responders, a common life-saving measure. However, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies have different protocols… Read More
PulsePoint partners with Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance and Heartsight to address citizen responder mental health
Specially-trained, on-the-ground resources provided by local public safety agencies round out the initiative. PLEASANTON, CA -- Many factors contribute to the psychological distress a lay responder may experience after witnessing a sudden cardiac arrest. These include the unknown or fatal outcome of the patient, the stressful and disorienting… Read More
An implantable sensor could reverse opioid overdoses
The new device, which can be implanted under the skin, rapidly releases naloxone when an overdose is detected Peer-Reviewed Publication In 2023, more than 100,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses. The most effective way to save someone who has overdosed is to administer a drug called naloxone, but a first responder or bystander can’t always… Read More
Welcome new Advisory Council Members
We are grateful that Janese Nichols, DNP, RN, CEN, NPD-BC, and Steven Brooks, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, have joined the SCAF Advisory Council. Janese has over 10 years of experience in emergency nursing and clinical education and two years in the medical device industry, focusing on education in resuscitation and other time-sensitive emergent conditions. … Read More
RescueStat and Boise School District partner to enhance student safety with advanced AED program
BOISE, ID -- RescueStat, a Boise-based healthcare technology company, has partnered with the Boise School District to enhance student safety with a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program. The district is incorporating RescueStat's Scout Remote Monitoring System and Apollo Program Management for advanced readiness and management to the… Read More
Disparities found in survival benefits for people receiving bystander CPR for cardiac arrest
NIH-funded study found Black adults and women had fewer gains A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported study has found race- and sex-based differences in the increased chances of survival from people who received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Average survival benefits for cardiac arrest,… Read More
Will ECPR move the needle on cardiac arrest survival?
Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) can be defined as the emergent use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on patients in cardiac arrest for whom conventional CPR has failed. According to some estimates, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is responsible for as many as 313,000 deaths annually in the United States and… Read More