The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Bystander CPR up to 10 minutes after cardiac arrest may protect brain function
Research Highlights: The sooner a lay rescuer (bystander) starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a person having a cardiac arrest at home or in public, up to 10 minutes after the arrest, the better the chances of survival and brain protection, according to an analysis of nearly 200,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases in the U.S.… Read More
911 dispatcher assistance improved chances of receiving bystander CPR
Research Highlights: A study of nearly 2,400 cardiac arrest cases in North Carolina found that when emergency dispatchers (telecommunicators) provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructions to 911 callers, people were more likely to provide aid for both men and women. The study’s findings indicate that when a telecommunicator… Read More
Cardiac arrest survival improved since COVID-19 pandemic waned, still lower than prior years
Research Highlights: U.S. survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests fell significantly at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and only slightly improved through 2022. Survival rates remained lower than in the pre-pandemic years of 2015-2019. The study of more than a half million adults in the U.S. who had an out-of-… Read More
Study shows no difference between two common methods for saving lives during cardiac arrest
Research shows a one-third chance of restoring blood circulation during cardiac arrest, regardless of whether the medication is administered into the bloodstream or bone marrow. There is no difference in the effectiveness of the two most commonly used methods for administering medication during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This is shown in a… Read More
Nova Scotia emergency medicine pioneer and politician Dr. Ron Stewart dies at 82
The former provincial health minister helped shape emergency medicine in Canada and the U.S. The Nova Scotian who was the driving force behind the modernization of the province's emergency health system has died of cancer. Dr. Ron Stewart was 82 years old. The son of a Cape Breton coal miner, Stewart worked in healthcare for more than 50 years… Read More
Darryl Conway joins Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Board of Directors
Darryl Conway, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Health & Welfare Officer, University of Michigan Athletics, has been elected to serve on the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Board of Directors. In his role at UM, he oversees Athletic Medicine, Performance Science, Performance Nutrition, Athletic Counseling / Sports… Read More
October is National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. Knowing the facts could help save lives.
October is National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. Seven common myths may be contributing to public hesitancy to take action. It's important to learn the facts. PITTSBURGH, PA -- Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It strikes people of all ages who may seem to be… Read More
AHA issues a scientific statement on COVID-19 cardiac arrhythmias
Cardiac arrhythmias are common in patients with COVID-19 infections and during recovery, which prompted a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) published Oct. 14. It offers consensus on the implications for clinical practice, gaps in knowledge and future directions research.[1] SARS-CoV-2 can cause arrhythmic… Read More
History of COVID-19 doubles long-term risk of heart attack, stroke, and death
A history of COVID-19 can double the risk of heart attack, stroke or death according to new research led by Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California. The study found that people with any type of COVID-19 infection were twice as likely to have a major cardiac event, such as heart attack, stroke or even death, for up to three… Read More