Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is still a significant public health issue, thus each of us needs to keep raising awareness and encouraging people to develop emergency response skills.

Did you realize that anyone can experience a sudden cardiac arrest? Even without any heart disease symptoms, SCA can affect infants, kids, teens, adults, and older persons.

An issue with the heart's electrical circuitry is what causes SCA. The heart's ability to adequately pump blood to the brain and other important organs is compromised when it doesn't get enough oxygen or sustains damage. When this occurs, after 4-6 minutes without oxygen, brain damage starts to take place. After 10 minutes, brain death can also happen.

Bystanders continue to be vital to survival because the majority of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home or in a public setting. By performing quick CPR and quick AED use, bystanders can save lives.

Symptoms

Sudden cardiac arrest symptoms are immediate and severe and include:

• Abrupt collapse
• Zero pulse
• Not breathing
• Consciousness loss

Before abrupt cardiac arrest, various indications and symptoms can appear. These could consist of:

1. Uncomfortable chest
2. breathing difficulty
3. Weakness Rapid heartbeat, fluttering, or pounding (palpitations)

But unexpected abrupt cardiac arrest frequently happens.

HELPING IN A SCA EMERGENCY

You must act promptly if you spot the symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, such as rapid collapse, loss of consciousness, or no evidence of breathing.

Call 999. Send someone to acquire an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in the area and instruct onlookers to phone for assistance. Start CPR. Strike the center of the chest quickly and forcefully.

Apply an AED. As soon as the AED arrives on the scene, use it.

CPR will buy more time for the use of an AED by supplying oxygenated blood to the brain and other essential organs.

The higher likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest is the earlier an AED shock is given.

APPLYING AN AED

An AED can be used to save lives by anyone. Even for onlookers who haven't had any training, AEDs are made to be easy to operate.

Both untrained and trained spectators could be hesitant or uneasy about pressing the shock button when instructed. But you can relax. Even if the shock button is pressed, the AED won't shock someone whose heart isn't in a shockable rhythm.

Reference:
https://emergencycare.hsi.com/blog/sudden-cardiac-arrest-awareness-month-2020