The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Study Shows Inappropriate ICD Shocks Increase Mortality
Leiden, the Netherlands - A retrospective, single-center experience supports post hoc analyses of two major randomized trials in finding that inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks increase all cause mortality. Moreover, the risk increased the more inappropriate shocks patients experienced, according to the analysis of… Read More
Chest Compression-Decompression Devices Boost Survival in Trial
Roseville, MN - A pair of devices for assisting paramedics performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can raise the patient's chances of discharge with good neurologic function, suggests a randomized trial published this week [1]. One of the devices (ResQPump, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Santa Clara, CA… Read More
San Ramon Fire Department Launches App to Help Save Lives
SAN RAMON, CA – In the spirit of “Gov 2.0” the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) announced the release of an innovative new location-aware iPhone application today. The new app empowers everyday citizens to provide life-saving assistance to victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Application users who have indicated they are… Read More
My Life Has Changed a Lot
Raymond White, Kearney, NE – 45 at time of event (2009) [Raymond has no recollection of his SCA event and is reliant upon his wife for the following details] On November 6th, 2009 my husband suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. We got up as usual, had coffee, and planned to go out to eat breakfast. We had gone upstairs to get dressed when I heard… Read More
AED Access for All
Mary Tappe, West Des Moines, IA – 43 at time of event (2004) On Monday, May 17, 2004 I was running late to a meeting at work. As I was sitting down, my friend Rick made a smart-alec comment about my being late, I gripped my pen, and BAM, my head hit the desk. My co-workers waited for me to sit up with a retort, but I didn’t. I was not breathing.… Read More
NBA Player Ryan Gomes on a Mission to Save Lives
Ryan Gomes of the Los Angeles Clippers is on a mission to save lives. Back in 2005, he lost a friend to sudden cardiac arrest during a basketball game. Cardiac arrest is a silent killer that takes over 325,000 lives each year in the United States. Having automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in a gym can make the difference between life and… Read More
Austin, MN, Receives Funding for AEDs
AUSTIN, Minn.- A grant from the Hormel Foundation will help keep people in Austin safer.The foundation is providing $30,000 in grant funding for the city to purchase defibrillators.The devices, which are also known as AEDs, will be carried in Austin police cars and placed in the fire department and in city buildings.Fire Chief Mickey Healey says… Read More
Still No Answer on Mechanical vs. Manual CPR
Review of randomized clinical trials fails to demonstrate one method is superior to the otherAlthough animal research, anecdotal reports, and studies of small series of patients suggested that mechanical CPR devices are more effective than manual chest compression, a systematic review of quality clinical research had not yet been done, according… Read More
CIRC Trial Enrollment Concludes: Results Positive for AutoPulse CPR Device
CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today the successful conclusion of the ZOLL-sponsored CIRC trial. The trial’s Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) closed enrollment when an analysis of the data showed the load-distributing band (AutoPulse® Non-… Read More