The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
New Cleveland Clinic Survey: Only Half Of Americans Say They Know CPR
When it comes to heart health emergencies, many Americans don’t have the knowledge to aid others, and often don’t know the proper way to help themselves, according to a new Cleveland Clinic survey. The survey found that slightly more than half of Americans (54 percent) say they know how to perform CPR; however, only one in six know that the… Read More
Four in 10 Cardiomyopathies – A Major Cause of Sudden Cardiac Death in Young People – Are Genetic
Family screening urgently needed to prevent early death in apparently healthy relatives SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS--Four in ten cardiomyopathies – a major cause of sudden cardiac death and heart failure in young people – are genetic, according to a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) study published in European Heart Journal. Family screening is urgently… Read More
Despite Overall In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival Improvement, Lower Survival on Nights, Weekends Persists
Survival difference between ‘on-hours’ and ‘off-hours’ remains unchanged WASHINGTON, DC--Overall survival has improved for the approximately 200,000 patients experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrest in the U.S. each year, but patients who arrest during nights or weekends continue to experience lower survival compared to patients who arrest during… Read More
Robert H. Trenkamp, Jr.: An Advocate Who Made A Difference
Robert H. Trenkamp, Jr., 74, of Skidaway Island, Georgia, suffered sudden cardiac arrest at his daughter's home in Zurich, Switzerland, over the Christmas holidays. Since he was a staunch advocate for improving survival from cardiac arrest, his family was well-versed in the critical importance of CPR and the use of automated external… Read More
AI Digital Assistant Can Help Dispatchers Identify Cardiac Arrest
When someone goes into cardiac arrest outside a hospital, time is critical: The chance of survival decreases about 10 percent with each minute. The first step–recognizing that it is cardiac arrest—is challenging for emergency dispatchers who have to make sense of symptoms relayed by a panicked friend or relative. In Copenhagen, dispatchers now… Read More
The Year in Review
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation distributes e-newsletters about twice a month as a free service to individuals and organizations striving to improve survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Following are links to selected 2017 newsletters that reported on key research, news and developments throughout the year. 2017 Newsletters December 29: Are… Read More
Are You Ready to Go to the Wall?
Join hundreds of generous donors who believe in the mission of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. Make a one-time donation or sign up for monthly recurring donations and have your name added to the Donor Recognition Wall. Donations may be made in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Over the past… Read More
ICD Shocks Hurt Quality of Life
GREENVILLE, NC--Shocks from an implantable defibrillator (ICD) are quick and can be life-saving, but can also hurt patients' quality of life and peace of mind for months afterward, whether delivered appropriately or inappropriately, suggests a large international cohort study. Objectively measured decreases in quality of life both 1 and 3 months… Read More
MRI Scan Safe for Most People with Older Pacemakers, Defibrillators
There's good news for people with pacemakers and the doctors who treat them. A new study reinforces earlier work suggesting that MRI scans are safe for patients with older devices, even if the MRI is focusing on the chest area. Until now, the sensitive electronics of older pacemakers and implantable defibrillators were thought to be vulnerable… Read More