Seven Statistics on Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition whereby the heart suddenly stops beating and the victim will certainly die unless specific medical measures are undertaken immediately. Here are seven statistics on SCA.

1. In the US each year, approximately 326,200 people experience sudden cardiac arrest and 90 percent of those people die. (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation)
2. One major difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest is that a heart attack is caused by a reduction or blockage in the heart’s blood supply— during which the person is conscious—whereas with sudden cardiac arrest, the victim always loses consciousness.
3. SCA victims can survive if they quickly receive these two things: cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and treatment with an automated external defibrillator (AED), which provides an electrical shock to the heart to restore a heartbeat. It is estimated that up to 38 percent of SCA victims will survive if they receive immediate CPR and AED treatment. (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation)
4. An automated external defibrillator costs between $1,500 and $2,000, according to the American Heart Foundation. The cost of an AED in Canada starts at about $1,300.
5. For every minute without CPR and defibrillation, a person’s chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest drop by seven to 10 percent. (cardiacscience.com)
6. In Canada about 40,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. (Heart and Stroke Foundation)
7. Only 32 percent of SCA victims receive CPR from bystanders and only two percent receive AED treatment by bystanders. (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation)

 Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition where the heart stops beating and the victim will certainly die unless specific medical measures are undertaken immediately. SCA is usually caused by an abnormality in the heart’s electrical system. Here are seven statistics relating to sudden cardiac arrest: