Cardiac Arrest and Sudden Death kills millions of
people each year worldwide! In the United States alone 550,000 deaths were
reported last year. Brain cells can only live four to six minutes without oxygen,
when breathing or heartbeat stop. The educated bystander or layperson is the vital link
in keeping the brain alive until advanced cardiac life support or professional help arrives.
If quick action is taken, up to 60% of these deaths might be prevented with a simple shock or defibrillation. Defibrillation is proven most effective within the first five to seven minutes of a cardiac arrest. Time is of the essence when suffering a cardiac arrest, since the chance of survival decreases about 10% per minute
without administering defibrillation.
Who is at Risk?
Many people have a mistaken perception that sudden cardiac arrest
(SCA) is only a problem for male senior citizens. The reality is that SCA strikes both men and women, and although the average age of victims is approximately 60, many SCA victims are much younger with documented victims
as young as early teens.
Cardiac Arrest and Sudden Death kills millions of
people each year worldwide! In the United States alone 550,000 deaths were
reported last year. Brain cells can only live four to six minutes without oxygen,
when breathing or heartbeat stop. The educated bystander or layperson is the vital link
in keeping the brain alive until advanced cardiac life support or professional help arrives.