Quick Facts…

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) takes the lives of more than 310,000 people each year –
almost 1,000 children and adults every day.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), also known as sudden cardiac death, is when the heart
suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

It is not a heart attack. It is an arrhythmia - a problem with the heart’s electrical system.

If the heart is not shocked back into a normal rhythm with an automated external
defibrillator (AED) within minutes, death is almost certain.

However, with AED use coupled with CPR, survival rates can reach 90% - an incredible
improvement.
 

Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning. Here’s what to look for:

• Sudden loss of responsiveness (no response to tapping on shoulders).

• No normal breathing (the victim does not take a normal breath when you tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds). 

If these signs of cardiac arrest are present, call 9-1-1 and use an AED as soon as possible and begin CPR.