The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Knowing When to Use an AED
Sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition that can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. When it occurs, every second counts, making it crucial to initiate prompt and effective life-saving measures. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combined with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) can significantly increase the… Read More
Trends in Sudden Cardiac Death Related Mortality in Adults in the United States: A CDC WONDER Database Analysis
Sudden cardiac death has long been one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Encouragingly, the number of deaths steadily declined for almost two decades, thanks to advances in emergency medical response, greater awareness of heart disease and prevention strategies. However, a new analysis of the CDC WONDER database by Bhagwan et… Read More
Thinking of Becoming a CPR Instructor? Here are 3 Things to Consider.
If you have a passion for helping others and a desire to make a lasting difference, becoming a CPR Instructor could be one of the most rewarding steps in your career or volunteer journey. In this role, you are sharing knowledge and empowering others with the skills and confidence to respond in an emergency. The person you train today could be the… Read More
SCAF Survey is Open - Please Share your Feedback!
Voices of the Community: Insights from Survivors, Allies, and Advocates The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is conducting a survey to gather perspectives from survivors, co-survivors, advocates, supporters, rescuers, trainers, medical professionals, partners, and others involved in sudden cardiac arrest awareness, prevention, education, and… Read More
How to Improve Community CPR Training and Save More Lives
Did you know that 4 out of 5 sudden cardiac arrests happen at home? That’s why effective community CPR training is essential. Laerdal Medical shares 3 proven tips to strengthen your CPR program and empower more bystanders to act. Focus on Hands-Only CPR – Simplify the message to reduce hesitation and increase confidence. Use… Read More
Study Explores Trends in Cardiac Arrest Incidence and Survival Over 20 Years
A study published in JAMA Cardiology examines two decades of data on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in King County, Washington, offering valuable insight into long-term trends in incidence and survival outcomes. Researchers analyzed over 25,000 OHCAs with attempted resuscitation between 2001 and 2021, using data from a regional registry… Read More
Research from the Netherlands Reveals How Close AEDs Should Be for Timely Rescue
A recent study published in Resuscitation examined the distances between out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) incidents and the locations of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) retrieved by Community First Responders (CFRs) in the Netherlands. Researchers found that, to ensure early AED connection within six minutes, AEDs should be located… Read More
Still top cause of death, the types of heart disease people are dying from is changing
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, but the types of heart-related conditions claiming lives are changing. According to the latest analysis from the American Heart Association, deaths from heart attacks have dropped significantly over the past two decades—thanks to improved prevention, faster emergency care,… Read More
Study Shows Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates Dropped During the Pandemic — and Haven’t Recovered
According to new research from UT Southwestern Medical Center, survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The study analyzed more than 600,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from 2015 to 2022, finding that promising progress made before the pandemic… Read More