AP Photo/Jeff Dean
Hi guys and welcome back!!
Today, I have a video narrated by Johnathan Drezner, MD that shows various real-time examples of what sudden cardiac arrest looks like. I included this UW Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology YouTube video so that you all could easily recognize SCA in athletes.
After watching the video, I will explain what secondary prevention is and introduce the “chain-of-survival” - a series of actions that can be taken to increase the likelihood of survival after an individual has suffered a cardiac arrest (AED Brands).
Here is the video!!
After the Video:
Secondary Prevention: measures used to prevent sudden cardiac death from occurring after a person has just suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia).
Chain of Survival:
All data used from AEDBrands.com
RECOGNIZING AND BEGINNING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM: this first step recognizes that someone has just experienced sudden cardiac arrest. CALL 911 ASAP - time is critical in these moments.
EARLY CPR: Anyone CPR certified should begin performing CPR before a medical team arrives at the scene. (We will discuss CPR in another blog!!)
USE A DEFIBRILLATOR (Automated External Defibrillator): An AED delivers shocks to the heart to try and restore an individual’s heartbeat. AEDs can be found in various public spaces and are easy to use. (Will also discuss in another blog!!)
PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (Usually performed by paramedics/medical professionals): Paramedics and/or medical professionals will deliver medications and possibly other interventions to stabilize the individual’s heart and condition.
POST SCA CARE: This can be as simple as monitoring the individual’s heart and other bodily systems while they recover from the arrest. Post SCA care could occur in the hospital with specialized treatments before returning to normal life.
Thank you all for reading this blog!! I hope it was informative and fascinating to you all (and showed the serious nature of SCA), & maybe even got you more interested in this topic. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions to be answered in future FAQ blogs, and remember to get screened! Also, get CPR certified!!!