October is Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month, which means that it is our responsibility to educate as many people as possible about what Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is and what to do if someone goes into SCA.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs within minutes and does not last more than 10-15 minutes during which if immediate assistance is not provided, the victim could die. It is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart. This malfunction causes the heart to beat irregularly, a condition which is known as Arrhythmia. Due to this disruption in the normal pattern of pumping blood, the heart is unable to supply blood to the brain and other body parts. This puts the person suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a very crucial and life-threatening situation.
Heart conditions and complications often have similar symptoms. This is why many people often think that a Sudden Cardiac Arrest is similar to a heart attack. However, both the conditions are very different from each other. Their risk factors, causes, and treatment options are distinct as well.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest can affect anyone anytime. It is absolutely crucial that the person gets help immediately. The only thing that will pull someone out of SCA is an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). An AED is a portable device that will check the hearts rhythm and can send an electrical shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm.
Below is a chart that shows the longer it takes to get an AED to a patient, the chances of survival goes does down exponentially. It is important to have an AED where it is easy to get to and that everyone knows its location in case of an emergency.
Please call us at 1-800-441-8378 with any questions or visit our website at www.aedmarket.com.
References
American Heart Association - How is a Heart Attack Different From an SCA: