The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.

Interim guidance to reduce COVID-19 transmission during resuscitation care

American Heart Association urges specific precautions when caring for patients DALLAS, TX--The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, has released interim guidance for resuscitation care intended specifically for patients with known or suspected COVID-19. This guidance is… Read More

What heart patients should know about coronavirus

The coronavirus should have everyone's attention by now, health experts say. And people with heart disease have extra reasons to be alert. COVID-19, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has sickened more than 200,000 people and killed thousands around the globe.  In the United States, "it's not so much a question… Read More

Patients taking ACE-i and ARBs who contract COVID-19 should continue treatment, unless otherwise advised by their physician

DALLAS, TX – As the global impact of COVID-19 rises, the scientific community continues to evaluate the clinical impact and health care needs of patients with cardiovascular disease, who are at increased risk for serious complications with COVID-19. Together, the American Heart Association (AHA), the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) and the… Read More

The American Heart Association outlines its integral role in the global COVID-19 pandemic

DALLAS, TX – The American Heart Association and its thousands of science volunteers are poised and ready to provide urgent support to ensure optimal care for patients with cardiovascular disease who contract COVID-19 (coronavirus), according to a new article on the American Heart Association President Page, published today in the American Heart… Read More

Magnetic component in e-cigarettes found to interfere with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator function

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- An e-cigarette carried in the left breast shirt pocket of a patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) caused magnetic reversion, interrupting the ICD's ability to detect and treat dangerous heart rhythm problems, clinicians report in HeartRhythm Case Reports, published by Elsevier. The patient was not aware… Read More

Clinical analysis of video recorded CPR cases improves resuscitation outcomes in emergency department

Drs. Becker, Rolston lead cardiac arrest survival study Less than eight percent of people who suffer from cardiac arrest outside of the hospital survive the incident, according to the American Heart Association. To improve survivorship and better administer life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), researchers and physicians at The … Read More

ACC issues COVID-19 clinical guidance for the CV care team

A letter from Richard J. Kovacs, MD, FACC, ACC President As we all work together on the front lines to best serve our patients and lead COVID-19 response planning for our institutions, I want to share with you the updated ACC Clinical Bulletin providing COVID-19 Clinical Guidance For the Cardiovascular Care Team. This resource provides an… Read More

Take a step for survival

Please join us Saturday, May 9 as we walk for a healthy community! By joining our Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community 5k team in person (in Pittsburgh, PA) or virtually, you'll help us achieve our mission to raise awareness and save lives.   Sudden cardiac arrest is a public health crisis. It's the third leading cause of death in the United… Read More

New Call-Push-Shock video aims to increase bystander action

CALL-PUSH-SHOCK, a national educational campaign co-sponsored by Parent Heart Watch and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, is designed to motivate bystanders to call 911, give CPR and use AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. About 50 organizations have joined the campaign since it was launched in… Read More

RQI Partners and IAFC aim to double out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival

Resuscitation programs and education for fire service leaders are central elements to improve survival rates The American Heart Association states more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States annually. About 90% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die. A time-critical, life-threatening… Read More