A sudden cardiac arrest can cause death within a few short minutes

Your quick response can save a life!

Last week we talked about the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. Both are emergencies, requiring quick intervention. A sudden cardiac arrest can cause death within a few short minutes. Your quick response can save a life! Let’s talk about what you can do to help.

Important Facts You Should Know About Cardiac Arrest

• More than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of a hospital every year in the US.
• A person having a cardiac arrest who does not receive CPR from a bystander, has about a 12% chance of survival, and only 9% chance of surviving without significant brain damage.
• Every minute without CPR decreases the chance of survival by 10%.
• Those who received CPR within 2 minutes of cardiac arrest have 81% higher odds of survival to release from the hospital, and 95% higher odds of surviving with only mild to moderate brain damage.

• Take a CPR class – They are available through the Red Cross and other organizations.
• Help your community install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces. They are life savers in cardiac arrest. Portable AEDs are now available in many public places, but not enough of them. You can also buy one for home use. They can be operated by any lay person. They come with voice instructions telling you what to do and are programmed to allow a shock only when it is appropriate.
• Know where AEDs are located in your workplace and frequent spots.

• Call 911, even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack – Emergency medical services (EMS) can arrive and start emergency treatment up to an hour sooner than if someone goes to the hospital by car.
• Stay calm – Be patient with the 911 operator. Know your location. If you are in an unfamiliar place, give as many details as possible.
• Do NOT hang up with 911 until EMS arrives! The operator may guide you through performing hands-only CPR if necessary.

• Check for responsiveness – A person is nonresponsive if they do not move, speak, blink, or otherwise react when you tap them hard on the shoulders and ask very loudly if they are OK.
• Check for breathing and a pulse – If a person is nonresponsive and isn’t breathing, is only gasping for air, or has no pulse, proceed to the next step.
• Shout for help and call 911 – If help is nearby, one person can start CPR and the other can call 911 and ask bystanders to find the nearest AED. If you have a cellphone on you, you can call 911 and start CPR at the same time.
• Begin CPR and continue until EMS arrives, or the person starts to breathe and move on their own. If you have not been trained in CPR, just do chest compressions. Push hard and fast on the person’s chest, about 100-120 pushes a minute, pushing the chest down at least 2 inches, then allowing it to rise completely between each push.
• Use an (AED) if one is available. As soon as it arrives, turn it on and follow the prompts.
• Naloxone should be given as part of emergency treatment for cardiac arrest caused by opioid overdose. If the person is known to be at risk for an opioid overdose, and you are trained to give naloxone, you can treat them before EMS arrives. Otherwise, await EMS arrival.