Are you someone who’s had heart problems in the past or knows someone who has? If so, then understanding sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is crucial. SCA is a shocking and life-threatening event that can happen to anyone at any time. This, even if their heart health shows no signs of being at risk.
What’s cardiac arrest, and what do we do when we see someone in this condition? In this blog post, we will explain what SCA is, why it should be taken seriously, and what to do when it happens. Keep reading for more information!
What is cardiac arrest? And why do cardiac arrests happen?
Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It usually occurs due to an electrical malfunction in the heart. It then causes it to stop pumping blood and sending oxygenated blood throughout the body.
When this happens, it causes a sudden loss of consciousness—sometimes referred to as “sudden cardiac arrest.
What are signs someone has gone into sudden cardiac arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest usually does not have any warning signs before it happens.But telltale signs include patients experiencing shortness of breath or chest pain, andfainting. When someone has gone into sudden cardiac arrest they will become unresponsive almost immediately with no pulse detectable.
The fatality rate of sudden cardiac arrest is incredibly high: it takes the lives of about 25,000 Australians every year. SCA can affect people of all ages. Each case is different based on individual risk factors such as age, lifestyle choices, overall health status and family history.
Common cardiac arrest cause
The most common cause is coronary artery disease (CAD), although other conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome or even arrythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) can also play a role.
These conditions may cause electrical disturbances that lead to an irregular heartbeat known as arrhythmia or an excessively rapid heartbeat known as tachycardia.
How many cardiac arrests can you survive?
Anyone’s first instance of SCA is already very lethal. You only have a 10% chance of surviving an SCA, especially when it occurs outside a hospital.
Cardiac Arrest Management
In order for someone who has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest to survive long enough for professional medical intervention, it is crucial that bystanders act fast and provide first aid for cardiac arrest immmediately!
Calling emergency service is important. However, bystanders can perform an emergency treatment while waiting to help increase the victim’s chances of survival. One of which is defibrillation through the use of defibrillators.
Use an automated external defibrillator
Defibrillation restores normal heart rhythm and save a person from sudden cardiac arrest. And to perfrom defibrillation, one has to use a defibrillator — or in this case the portable kind ready for bystander use, also known as an automated external defibrillator.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) delivers an electric shock directly to the heart muscle. These controlled electric shocks come through electrodes placed on either side of patient’s chest cavity near where their organs are located. They help correct this abnormal electrical activity and allows for normal rhythm restoration.
What is an AED?
AEDs are a life-saving device that has become increasingly common in many public spaces, such as airports, schools, work environments, etc., so that access to it is more readily available when needed.
Without use of a defibrillator, individuals suffering from SCA will have very little chance of survival; even with basic CPR measures being taken quickly after SCA occurs, chances are still slim that recovery can be achieved without use of this life-saving device.
AEDs are specifically designed for situations where the user may not have any clinical training or knowledge on how to properly administer CPR or utilise specialised equipment like old-fashioned manual defibrillators.
Things to remember when administering first aid for cardiac arrest:
- If not treated immediately with CPR or defibrillation, cardiac arrest leads to death within minutes because of insufficient oxygen delivery to vital organs like the brain and lungs.
- Treatment should begin immediately after the victim has lost consciousness so that quick action can be taken before any permanent brain damage begins.
- An AED will determine if defibrillation is needed by detecting certain unique rhythms in your heart’s activity.
- AEDs come pre-loaded with instructions on their proper usage and offer much needed assistance in times when every second counts towards saving someone’s life
Where to buy an AED — Integrity Health & Safety
At Integrity Health & Safety, a Supply Nation certified Indigenous owned business, we strive to be an ethical, sustainable and socially responsible company that provides our clients with leading WH&S products and services while leveraging these relationships to support and improve Indigenous health care capability.
Using our many years’ experience as Paramedics and Healthcare workers, we are able to advise on best practice for defibrillators as part of your home, community or workplace first aid kit preparedness and help to empower your staff to feel confident to act in an emergency.
We are also recognised for tailoring our training to suit each workplace and providing relevant, engaging, hands-on training based upon real-life situations. Our training courses are conducted under the auspices of Healthcorp RTO number 91222.
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