More about Sudden Cardiac Arrest from Living for Zachary

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claims the lives of nearly 300,000 Americans each year – almost 1,000 lives per day. SCA does not discriminate – it can affect people of all ages, all races and genders, and even people in overall good health. Even active, healthy teenagers participating in everyday activities such as sports or dance or socializing.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest sounds scary because it IS scary. Between 5,000 and 7,000 youth in the United States die from SCA each year. Young athletes seem to be particularly at risk – every third day sees a young athlete competing in sports who suffers sudden cardiac arrest. These attacks happen suddenly and without warning, and many times no one knew the teen had a heart abnormality because SCA often shows no symptoms before claiming a life.

There are few ways to survive SCA, but cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) help increase the odds of survival. Sadly, 95 percent of SCA attacks are fatal because the victims are alone or the medical equipment and knowledge of CPR is not available. The Living for Zachary organization is dedicated to changing this statistic by encouraging the public to learn CPR and supporting the placement of AEDs in public places.

Like many health risks, prevention and early detection can be invaluable when it comes to saving lives. A simple heart screening such as the “Living for Zachary Heart Screening,” which helps determine a teen’s risk of sudden cardiac arrest or other cardiac event, could have helped save many young lives already taken by SCA.

The “Living for Zachary Heart Screening” is designed for youth ages 13-22, and it can help detect heart abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and other heart conditions. This non-invasive screening package includes a blood pressure screening, electrocardiogram, and a 2D echocardiogram. For $100, parents and loved ones can have the peace of mind knowing that their teen’s heart is functioning properly. If abnormalities are discovered during the screening, teens are referred to a pediatric cardiologist to further explore the findings. To sign up for this potentially life-saving screening, call 1-800-4BAYLOR and ask for the “Living for Zachary Heart Screening.”

As a community, we need to know and address the fact that Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is real and happening every single day to our youth. Some are taking their last breaths on the basketball court, the football field, the dance floor and even at rest. Help the Living for Zachary organization spread the word about the dangers of SCA. Let your heart be HEARD by having your teen’s heart screened.

June is National CPR/AED Awareness Month! The Clock is Ticking

June is National CPR/AED Awareness Month!

2 minutes and 59 seconds sounds like plenty of time... you could pop a bag of popcorn, unload a dishwasher, watch a TV commercial or even cook Ramen. Did you know that you have 3 minutes to 'drop to shock' once someone collapses from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)? Defibrillation within 3 minutes increases the chance of survival to over 70%.¹ The rule of thumb is 1 ½ minutes to get to the AED, and 1 minute to return to the victim. ² The clock is ticking and there are only 2:59 minutes to act! Join us in celebrating National CPR/AED Awareness Month by supporting L4Z's mission to donate and place AED's in the community. Remember, the clock is ticking...

SCA is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 350,000 lives per year.³ This is more than the number of people who die from AIDS, Alzheimer’s Disease, breast, prostate and colon cancer, fires and motor vehicle accidents combined. ⁴ SCA is a sudden or unexpected cessation of heart function. When this occurs, the heart’s electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic and ineffective. Blood flow to the brain abruptly stops and the victim collapses and quickly loses consciousness. Death usually follows unless a normal heart rhythm is restored within minutes. ⁵ A heart attack is not the same as SCA. In simple terms, a heart attack is a ‘plumbing’ problem caused when a vessel becomes clogged. SCA is an ‘electrical’ problem.⁵ Click here to view an infograph depicting the difference between SCA and a heart attack.

Here is a list of warning signs and symptoms of SCA. Consult a physician promptly if you or someone you know has one or more of these signs and/or symptoms : ⁶

• Fainting of seizure during or after physical activity 
• Fainting or seizure resulting from emotional excitement, distress or startle 
• Chest pain or discomfort/ racing heartbeat 
• Unexplained fainting or seizures 
• Family history of heart disease 
• Unusual shortness of breath 
• Unusual fatigue/tiredness 
• Dizziness/ lightheadedness during or after physical activity 
• Family history of unexpected sudden death during physical activity or during a seizure, or any other unexplained sudden death of an otherwise healthy family member under age 50 

SCA is more common than you think, and it can happen to anyone at any time.  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions that delivers oxygen and artificial circulation to a person whose heart has stopped. Anyone can learn CPR - and everyone should! Sadly, 70% of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency. This alarming statistic could hit close to home, because home is exactly where 88% of sudden cardiac arrests occur. Put very simply: The life you save with CPR is mostly likely to be someone you love.⁷

For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, survival decreases by 10%.⁷ An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) administers an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm, judge whether defibrillation is needed, and then administer an appropriate level of shock. ⁸   Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process. Defibrillation stops ventricular fibrillation using an electrical shock and allows the return of a normal heart rhythm. It is the only known treatment for ventricular fibrillation. They do not require the user to make decisions or interpret symptoms. Anyone can learn how to respond to life-threatening emergency and use an AED. ⁵

1. www.aedlocator.org 
2. www.schoolhealth.com 
3. www.hrsonline.org 
4. www.aed.com
5. “Working Against Time” published by the American Heart Association 
6. www.parentheartwatch.org 
7. www.heart.org 
8. www.emergencycareforyou.org