Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) claims more than 356,000 lives per year, and is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
More than 23,000 of those affected by SCA each year are young people under age 18. SCA strikes people of all ages who may seem healthy – even kids and teens.
What is sudden cardiac arrest?
The heart has tiny electrical signals that tell it when to beat. If those signals get mixed up, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or in a very wild way. When that happens, the heart can’t pump blood to the brain and body. This causes sudden cardiac arrest.
SCA can make a person collapse, stop breathing, or lose consciousness. Sudden cardiac arrest might also look like a seizure.
What causes sudden cardiac arrest?
SCA can be caused by genetic (inherited) heart conditions that affect the heart’s rhythm – like Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT), or Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM). These conditions can make the heart’s electrical system unstable, especially during stress, exercise, or startle.
There are several other reasons someone might have SCA. Sometimes it’s due to heart disease or something that’s damaged the heart muscle like an infection. SCA can also happen after a hard blow to the chest (like in sports) or because of certain medications or imbalances in the body.
Is sudden cardiac arrest the same as a heart attack?
No! You can think of the heart as having two “utility systems” – electrical and plumbing. A heart attack is caused by an issue in the “plumbing” due to a blocked artery, while SCA is caused by an issue in the “wiring” of the heart which causes a chaotic heart rhythm.
SCA can affect people of all ages – even young children – and can occur in people who otherwise appear completely healthy, and have a healthy lifestyle.
What should I do if someone goes into sudden cardiac arrest?
CPR and AEDs save lives by keeping blood and oxygen flowing until medical help arrives. Quick action is critical – survival rates triple when bystanders start CPR immediately, and AEDs can often restore a normal heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest.
Call, Push, Shock to Save a Life!
Call
911 for emergency assistance
Push
As hard and fast as you can on the victim’s chest until someone comes to help
Shock
Send someone to find an AED (automated external defibrillator), turn it on and follow the voice prompts.
Today, only 1 in 10 survives Sudden Cardiac Arrest. But with immediate CPR and use of an AED, 5 in 10 could survive.
Resources at the SADS Foundation
FAQs on SCA
How common is sudden cardiac arrest?
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in this country, taking the lives of more than 356,000 people each year — more than breast cancer, lung cancer, stroke, and AIDS combined.
What are the survival rates of someone who has a sudden cardiac arrest?
Currently 90% of people who experience an out of hospital cardiac arrest do not survive, but a shock delivered by an automated external defibrillator (AED) within 3-5 minutes may save these lives. Survival rates decrease by 10% with each minute of delay.
What is the Chain of Survival?
The Chain of Survival after a sudden cardiac arrest is critical in giving the person the best chance at survival. It’s easy to remember- CALL, PUSH, SHOCK.
- CALL: Immediately upon a person collapsing (going into cardiac arrest) CALL 911
- PUSH: push hard and fast in the center of the person’s chest at 100-120 compressions per minute (until emergency services arrive or an AED can be used).
- SHOCK: follow step-by-step instructions from an AED and remember that an AED cannot hurt the person, it can only help
How can I tell if someone has just fainted or they need CPR?
Someone who is experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest will be unresponsive, not breathing or not breathing normally, call 911 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest. Don’t be afraid; your actions can only help.
Why don’t you check for a pulse?
For the lay rescuer it can be difficult to reliably detect whether a pulse is present or absent. This wastes precious time and delays starting CPR.
How does someone get oxygen with hands-only CPR?
There is oxygen in the body from before the cardiac arrest happened, and CPR helps to circulate that oxygen throughout the body. Hands-Only CPR (CPR with just chest compressions) has been proven to be as effective as CPR with breaths in treating adult cardiac arrest victims.
Should I stop compressions if the person is gasping?
No! Gasping or agonal respirations are a sign of cardiac arrest. This is not a sign that the person is waking up. Continue chest compressions until paramedics arrive.
Is CPR by itself enough to bring the person back or restart the heart?
CPR by itself is usually not enough to restart a person’s heart, but maintaining uninterrupted CPR can dramatically increase the chance of survival Chest compressions help maintain the person’s heart in a state that increases the likelihood that shocks from an AED will result in survival.
Will I hurt someone if I use an AED on them?
No, if a shock is not needed, the device will not shock the victim (i.e. if there has been a seizure, injury, or another cause for the victim to collapse). In this case other reasons for the collapse should then be assessed and CPR should be continued if needed.
What if the person has an ICD or a pacemaker?
If someone with an ICD or pacemaker faints and does not regain consciousness their device may not be functioning properly. In this case they would still need CPR just like anyone else experiencing a cardiac arrest. You can not hurt someone with an ICD or pacemaker by performing CPR and using an AED on them. You should avoid putting the AED pads directly over the device.
How common is sudden cardiac arrest?
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in this country, taking the lives of more than 356,000 people each year — more than breast cancer, lung cancer, stroke, and AIDS combined.
Need help getting an at-home AED? We can help!
Many physicians recommend that families with an inherited arrhythmia condition consider obtaining a personal AED as part of the family’s safety gear. It’s a personal decision that you and your physician should discuss.
We can help you work with your insurance company to cover the cost of an at-home AED.
How can I get CPR certified?
The SADS Foundation does not directly provide CPR certification classes. We’re proud to partner closely with the following organizations who offer direct support in learning CPR and helping train your community.