A lot of people confuse heart attacks with cardiac arrest. Most heart attack victims don't die. Most cardiac arrest victims stay dead when they arrest.
There is a lot of folklore in circulation, most of which is incorrect. There is an interesting "What do you know about heart attacks?" quiz at
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/rm-quiz-heart-myths?ecd=wnl_hyp_060211
Cardiac arrests are a lot simpler: tens of millions of people have Coronary Artery Disease in North America. For more than half, the first symptom they experience is death.
Of these people who arrest, a 'theoretical maximum' of two thirds can be saved, if chest compressions begin immediately and defibrillation happens promptly. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen most of the time, because most of our population doesn't know how to recognize when someone needs CPR, doesn't know how to perform it, and doesn't have an AED (automatic external defibrillator) nearby when they witness a sudden cardiac arrest.
Take the quiz. Then watch the SLICC class video at www.slicc.org/ClassVideo and take it again.
Best
Bob
When you see a cardiac arrest, your brain fights you - "No, this isn't really happening" - and the circumstances fight you - "Dang! in CPR class the manikin didn't weigh very much and wasn't sitting in a deep chair. This blog deals with practical details and presents reports of "saves." Let me have your questions and comments - they will steer the course of this blog. This blog is brought to you by the volunteers at www.slicc.org
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