02/20/2025
🚨DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR LOVED ONE SUFFERS A SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST?🚨
Did you know that sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is often reversible if detected early and treated aggressively? Often SCA occurs because of a condition known as Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) or Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). These are lethal heart rhythms that, if left untreated, will lead to death within a matter of minutes.
Did you also know that early bystander CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use is crucial to a victims survival in SCA? The earlier SCA is recognized and treated the higher chances of survival.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Recognize the signs and symptoms of SCA
Sudden loss of consciousness. No spontaneous breathing. No palpable pulse. Some victims may experience crushing chest pain, dizziness, or lightheadedness prior to losing consciousness.
Call 911.
Ask for help from other bystanders if there are any. Ask for an AED to be brought to your location. The 911 dispatcher should provide you with instructions as well.
Perform high quality CPR
Push hard and push fast in the center of the chest with both hands at a rate of 100 beats per minute (You can compress to the tune of Staying Alive or Baby Shark if you need some help with that) without stopping until help arrives. Ask a bystander to take over if you become fatigued. Reassess every 2 minutes by checking for breathing or a change in responsiveness.
Utilize an AED
If you have access to an AED, simply turn it on and follow the prompts given. Defibrillate or reassess based on the AED prompts. After each AED cycle it is a good idea to swap CPR compressors with another bystander to prevent fatigue.
‼️ REMEMBER fatigued CPR is just as bad as no CPR ‼️
If you are interested in formal CPR and First Aid training that is backed by the American Heart Association please reach out to us and we will be more than happy to help you!
