The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Cooling SCA Survivors: Key to Successful Post Arrest Care
While hypothermia has been used during cardiac bypass since the 1950s, its use in the post-cardiac arrest setting had been unsuccessful until recently By Jon C. Rittenberger, MD Cardiac arrest is the most common cause of death in North America, resulting in approximately 350,000 deaths per year. For in-patients successfully resuscitated from out-… Read More
Another Piece of the Puzzle
Sick sinus syndrome occurs when the electrical activity of the sinoatrial node – the heart’s pacemaker – is impaired. Sudden cardiac death occurs after an abrupt loss of consciousness within an hour of the onset of acute symptoms – often at night when the heart rate slows dramatically – and can affect the healthy elderly and well-trained athletes… Read More
AEDs Contributed to Livingston County, MI, Law Enforcement
Livingston County’s nine law enforcement agencies now have another tool in the trunk to help save lives. Thanks to community and business contributions, a “Jump Start the Heart” campaign led by Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post, Livingston County EMS and the Sheriff’s Department was an overwhelming success and has resulted in the purchase… Read More
How to Save a Life: Good Morning America Reports on Sudden Cardiac Arrest
“Good Morning America,” today reported on sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), emphasizing the importance of prompt use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) when SCA strikes. ABC News’ senior health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser demonstrated the proper way to use AEDs, noting that 50,000 lives can be saved each year if an AED is used… Read More
Dick Cheney Recuperates from Heart Surgery
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says he underwent heart surgery last week and is recuperating. In a statement, Cheney said he had been experiencing increasing congestive heart failure and after consultations with his doctors, he had received an implantable pump, to improve heart function. He said the operation went well and he is recuperating.… Read More
Paramedic Students Use Social Media and Humor to Raise Awareness of CPR and AEDs
Paramedic Students Use Social Media and Humor to Raise Awareness of CPR and AEDs Pittsburgh, Penn. – The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation today announced the grand prize winner of its You Can Save a Life Video Awareness Contest. The student competition invited teams to submit videos about the impact of sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of… Read More
Won't You Be My Neighbor?...Won't You Learn How to Save a Life?
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is thrilled to announce its annual awards reception, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?...Won’t You Learn How to Save a Life?, to take place on October 7, 5:30-7:30 PM, at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event will honor survivors of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and the neighborly… Read More
FDA Recalls Certain LIFEPAK 20, 20e Defibrillator/Monitors
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a class 1 recall of the LIFEPAK 20 and LIFEPAK 20e external defibrillator/monitors, which are designed for use by trained medical personnel in hospitals and clinic settings to monitor patient heart rhythms and to treat patients experiencing cardiac arrest. The recall affects approximately 43,… Read More
Compliance High Among Patients with Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillators
In addition to showing high rates of patient compliance, new study data suggested that survival and mortality rates were similar among patients with a wearable cardioverter defibrillator and those with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Data from 3,569 patients who wore a wearable defibrillator for at least one day from August 2002… Read More