Eliz Greene
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Sudden Cardiac Arrest is not a Heart Attack!

Would you know what to do if someone you know suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest(SCA)?  Unlike a heart attack, which often has symptoms which build over time, the first symptom of a SCA is dropping to the ground.

Comparing heart attacks to SCAs is like comparing apples to oranges according to an awareness campaign from the Heart Rhythm Society.

A Heart Attack stops the flow of blood to the heart.

A Sudden Cardiac Arrest stops the heart!

Within minutes, the chances of recovery will disappear.  If someone you know collapses and in unresponsive – Act, don’t ponder.  Getting a defibrillator to the victim within 8 minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

The Heart Rhythm Society advises the following actions in response to a potential SCA emergency:

  1. Know the signs of SCAin order to react quickly. SCA strikes immediately and without warning.
    1. Victims will fall to the ground/collapse,
    2. become unresponsive
    3. will not breathe normally, if at all
  2. Call 911 as soon as possible
  3. Start CPR as quickly as possible. Bystanders should provide high-quality chest compressions by pushing hard and fast (approximately 100 beats per minute) in the middle of the victim’s chest, with minimal interruptions. (Note: Hands-only CPR is proven to be just as effective)
  4. Use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available on site
 AEDs should be as available as fire extinguishers and are increasingly available at public locations, such as airports, gyms, and office buildings. Despite common concerns that these devices can hurt the victim, shock a victim when he or she does not need a shock, or shocking or hurting oneself while treating the victim, these devices will only deliver a shock when an irregular heart rhythm is detected.
As a person who has been defibrillated, don’t worry about causing pain – focus on saving a life!
Watch our video on Hands-Only CPR

Eliz Greene

 

Eliz Greene works busy people to improve heart health, so they can work well, feel better, and stress less.

She is a heart attack survivor and the author of the Busy Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart as well as 3 other books on wellness. She writes one of the top 50 health and wellness blogs and is a sought-after wellness & stress management speaker.

If you are planning a women’s wellness program, workplace wellness program or programs for healthcare professionals check out EmbraceYourHeart.com to see if Eliz would be a good fit with your organization.

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About Eliz Greene

Eliz Greene survived a heart attack at age 35 while seven months pregnant with twins. Her down-to-earth strategies to manage stress and improve heart health and reduce stress are used by thousands of busy people all over the world. She is a motivational wellness speaker, author, and job stress researcher. Visit elizgreene.com to book Eliz for your next event.

One Response to “Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Would You Know What To Do?”

  • Hello Eliz! Thank you so much for clearly explaining some differences between a sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack. Also, thank you so much for creating awareness about this topic. Sometimes it is difficult to find trustable information about this topic online.

    I will check out your books!

    Felix

    Reply

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