Surviving Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Each February, we take time to recognize American Heart Month and focus on heart health and heart disease, the leading cause of death in America. This year, the focus came a little earlier than normal when Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills collapsed January 2nd during an NFL game.

Hamlin was the victim of a sudden, unexpected cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, there are more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year in the United States. Nearly 90 percent are fatal.

Fortunately, Damar Hamlin will not be recorded among those fatal statistics. In addition to his youth and physical fitness, his remarkable survival is being attributed to quick action on the field. Almost immediately, lifesaving measures were taken. The medical team quickly began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) followed by the use of the automated external defibrillator (AED).

These steps are crucial when someone is experiencing cardiac arrest. CPR can help to keep the heart pumping and blood flowing. This helps to maintain blood and oxygen flow to vital organs until medical assistance arrives on scene. In addition, the electrical shock provided by an AED can help to jumpstart the heart and restore a normal heart rhythm.

Unfortunately, the shock of witnessing a cardiac arrest can leave bystanders frozen in place. Even though the same lifesaving measures that saved Damar Hamlin are available to all of us, few of us are prepared to use them. Of those cases of cardiac arrest that occur outside of a hospital, CPR is only administered in 39 to 44 percent of cases. Only 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest according to a report published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Anyone who witnesses a cardiac arrest can perform CPR. This simple act can double or triple the chances that a victim of cardiac arrest will survival. With 70 percent of cardiac arrests occurring in private homes according to the American Heart Association it is important for family members to be prepared to take action in such a situation.

Providing hands-only CPR is an easy skill that can save a life in just two steps – call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute. Continue to perform CPR until emergency medical assistance arrives.
For many people, there are early warning signs that your heart is not functioning properly or that you are having a heart attack which could result in sudden cardiac arrest.

Signs and symptoms to seek medical attention for include:

• Shortness of breath
• Extreme dizziness
• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations
• Loses of consciousness
• Clammy skin or cold sweats
• Pain in neck, jaw, arms and/or upper back
• Abdominal pain
• Unusual fatigue

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Age
• Family history

If you are experiencing difficulty breathing, heaviness or tightness in your chest, or trouble thinking clearly, call 911 right away. You may be having a heart attack.

Want to learn more? Watch the American Heart Association’s videos below to learn more about hands-only CPR and how to properly use an AED.

Visit Bronsonhealth.com/LifeSupportTraining. You’ll find more information about basic life support, CPR, AED and first aid courses available for healthcare professionals, educators and members of the community.