How Do You Treat Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
The only way to treat a victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest is by remembering and implementing the American Heart Association's Chain of Survival.
Immediately. Every second counts!
1. Call 9-1-1 as soon as you realize the victim is in trouble.
2. Begin CPR. Unfortunately, you can do CPR till you're blue in the face and you've blown enough air into the victim's lungs to turn him into a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon. If you don't also apply the next step, defibrillation, the victim will die. However, CPR is critically important. It helps keep the victim alive until defibrillation.
3. Use a defibrillator (such as the Philips OnSite Defibrillator) to apply an electrical shock to the victim's heart or keep up the CPR until the paramedics arrive with one.
4. Turn the victim over to the paramedics when they arrive so they can apply more advanced medical techniques in their efforts to save the person.
By following the links in the Chain of Survival and applying an electrical shock within the first four minutes, you increase the victim's chances of survival from 5% to 49% and reduce the chance of long-term organ damage or failure.
Unfortunately, that means there is still a 51% chance that the person will die. For your own peace of mind it's important to know that if the victim does die, it was not your fault. If you were using a Philips OnSite defibrillator, know that it was not the equipment's fault (no Philips OnSite or Home defibrillator has ever been recalled by the manufacturer for any reason). While your actions increased the person's chances for survival by a whopping 10 times, the odds were still against him.
You cannot mis-use the defibrillator. You cannot administer an electrical shock if the defibrillator determines that one is not needed. Not even if you wanted to!
By following the links in the Chain of Survival, you can only help. If you live with or know a person who might be susceptible to Sudden Cardiac Arrest, prepare for such an emergency ahead of time by taking an American Red Cross or American Heart Association class that covers both CPR and the use of Automated External Defibrillators. That training will give you the confidence to act quickly. Even if you don't live with someone who is at risk, you should take the course!
Remember that time is precious.
For every minute that passes without the heart receiving an electrical shock, the chances for survival decline by 10%.
After about 20 seconds, your brain loses oxygen and begins to die.
After 4 minutes pass without the heart receiving an electrical shock, long-term organ damage begins. If you've been getting CPR, you might have 8 more minutes to live.
After 10 minutes pass without the heart receiving an electrical shock, the chances for survival are less than 1%.
Even if your efforts are not successful, wouldn't you rather give your friend or loved one a 49% chance for survival rather than a 5% chance?
Don't Drop Dead
(a division of CMBS, Inc.)
PO Box 1996, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
360-289-0893 1-800-999-4593
Any day, 9AM-9PM Pacific Standard Time