Sudden Cardiac Arrest can cause permanent heart damage, brain damage and even irreversible death if not treated immediatly after a patient's heart stops. Early resuscitation like providing high quality CPR, the use of AEDs or Automated External Defibrillators and giving medications are all crucial to prevent the deadly effects of SCA.  With this article, learn the most common risk factors of SCA and avoid developing this fatal heart condition before it starts to kick in.


First, family history of Coronary Artery Disease plays an important role in this life threatening condition, if your parents or grandparents have it, the more likely you will develop SCA. Aside from genetics, CAD or Coronary Artery Disease more commonly known as Atherosclerosis which is the accumulation of plaque deposition within the arterial walls of the heart is also considered to be one of the greatest risk factors that may lead to SCA.

Secondly, smoking is also considered a factorm that increased heart disease. Nicotine is known to be a notorious a vasoconstrictor meaning it constricts the blood vessels of the body resulting to high blood pressure and increase turbulence of the blood.


Third, hyperlipidemia or increase cholesterol in the blood can also subject you to SCA. Collection of lipids in the blood especially harmful ones like low density lipoprotein which can be found on oily foods, saturated fats, sodium rich meals and fatty dishes are known to increase exposure towards SCA.

Excersie; we all hate doing it but doctors say it's the best way to keep our heart healthy. Aside from SCA, sedentary lifestyle is also known to put you on other heart diseases such as heart attack, hypertension, CAD and all others.

To prevent development of SCA it is advised to submit yourself to annual checkups if you are healthy, monthly checkups if you have underlying heart conditions and bi annual check up for older individuals. It is also wise to religiously take your medications as this stops further development of your existing medical condition. Smoking cessation, healthy lifestyle, exercising twice a week, intake of nutritious foods should also be practiced utmost to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

SCA is preventable; you just need to have a good self discipline and tons of knowledge to fight this lethal heart condition. Remember that if one suffers from SCA, don’t hesitate to help him or her. What you need to do to save his life are the following but not limited to:

- Calling for help

- Performing CPR following the new sequence C-A-B or chest compression, airway and breathing

- Using Automated External Defibrillators present on site


Stop the spread of SCA! Live a healthy life and don’t forget to submit yourself to medical checkups to ensure best health and wellness.

A defibrillator is a great device for treating someone experiencing SCA.  A defibrillator used in conjunction with M5072A and a M5071A is best when used within the first 5 minutes.

Performing proper chest compressions is the most important aspect when providing CPR. In fact, the American Red Cross has revised the CPR guidelines emphasizing chest compressions. However, you can’t just compress the chest and expect proper results, there are important tips that you should know so you can perform proper CPR.



First, you need to know where to press. You should put both of your hands on the right side of the chest just below the nipple. If possible, make sure you’re on a flat surface when performing compressions so that the full force of your compressions is put into compressing the chest at least 1 ½” on each thrust.


The pace of the chest compressions is also critically important. Too fast, or too slow will nullify the impact of the compressions. The American Red Cross has stated that compressions should be between 90-100 times per minute. While giving chest compressions it helps to sing a song that has a good fast beat to keep pace with. A good dance song like “Staying Alive” from the Bee Gee’s is a great song to keep beat to.



Although breathing for the patient is important, it’s been found that it’s not as important as just performing compressions. In fact, chest compressions alone are enough to revive someone who experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.



Chest compressions should be performed while waiting for emergency services to show up with an automated external defibrillator. An AED can monitor the heart and determine if an electrical shock is required. It has been proven that a shock from an AED can significantly increase the likely hood for reviving the patient. For every minute without an AED, it decreases the likeliness of survival by 10%. You should always have an AED onsite with a fully charge aed battery to make sure your prepared for an emergency.

One of the leading causes of death in the United States is a heart problem known as sudden cardiac arrest Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when there is a problem with the electrical impulses of the heart. This condition doesn’t just impact the sick or the elderly, but healthy people at any time.



Every year more than three hundred thousand individuals encounter this condition so it’s crucial that we start to understand this condition and learn what can be done when it impacts children. It is said that fewer than 6 percent off sufferers live after encountering SCA but that figure would be in excess of 50% if an automated external defibrillator was used within five minutes of the patient collapsing from SCA.


It is documented that between 2000-2006 there have been over 500 incidents of SCA occurring to youngsters at school. The most common place where SCA occurs is in gym class where physical activity can strain the heart. As a sudden cardiac arrest can be encountered by anyone irrespective of their age and as such, the faculty and students both have to be protected in case of such an incident taking place.


An automated external defibrillator is a device approved by the FDA that will send an electrical shock to a patient experience SCA that will put the heart back into its normal rhythm. Most schools have made sure to install AED’s in gyms or where sports are played by children, however, there are few AED’s mounted in day care centers. There are several programs by the government and institutions like the American Heart Association which have made certain that most of the schools and day care centers have an access to an AED.


Once an AED has been connected to a individual in begins monitoring the heart. Only if the heart has stopped will the defibrillator verbal and visually advise the care giver to push the shock button. With minimal training the average person, teacher, or day care center employee can learn to use a defibrillator. Automated external defibrillators typically cost between $1000-$2000 dollars which is truly an affordable price since you may be saving the life of a child.
 
The Philips FRx is an outstanding defibrillator that works both with adults and children when you use in in conjunction with the 989803139311 that will regulate the voltage.

When speaking of training there was no one that said it better than Vince Lombardi, "I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline... I firmly believe that any man's finest hour-this greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear--is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle -- victorious."  


Clearly training for the moment is the best preparation for a sports team but it's also the same in the real life scenarios.  That's why Philips manufactured the Little Anne Training System model number M3756A.  It allows a trainer to simulate life saving techniques using the Philips FRx defibrillator in a multitude of scenarios.  This package is complete with a real life mannequin that will allow you to place the pads on the patient while an instructor evaluates the position and connection to the AED.

The package also comes with a trainer AED and remote control that allows the certified instructor to choose from 10 different scenarios that a care giver may be confronted with during an emergency.  The trainer can use the included remote control to stop or pause the scenario during training to provide direct and personal constructive feedback to the care giver on the proper method of placing the pads on the patient or the correct method of performing CPR.

Trainers are now retraining their customers with the release of the new 2010 CPR guidelines.  Prior to 2010, the method was known as ABC: Airway, Breathing, and Chest Compressions.  Now with recent chances they have recommended CAB.  Chest, Airway, Breathing.  They have found that the likely hood for resuscitation of a patient is much higher if the focus is on chest compressions.  The Little Anne Training System allows the student to practice chest compressions which should be 2 - 2.5" deep for each compression.  Compression should be fast or about 100 beats per minute.  The system will also provide verbal feedback to the student if pad placement is correct and visual LEDs.

To save money Philips also has developed a special training aed pad to be used with the AED Training system.  Training pads are about 50% of the price of the actual pads.  Becoming CPR trained is great, but you should also consider AED training now with the continued placement of defibrillator's in public places there is a high probability that in the event someone experiences a sudden cardiac arrest you will need to provide CPR along with use a portable defibrillator.