What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Did you know that 10,000 people in the UK suffer Sudden Cardiac Arrest every year? That is equivalent to one every 6 minutes. Less than 5% of these victims survive...

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

If this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs and usually causes death if not treated within minutes.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack occurs if blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked and during a heart attack the heart doesn't usually suddenly stop beating. Sudden Cardiac Arrest can happen after or during recovery from a heart attack and people who have heart disease are at a higher risk. However, it can also occur in people who appear healthy and have no known heart disease or other risk factors.

What can be done to increase the survival rate?

Most people who have Sudden Cardiac Arrest die from it, often within minutes. Rapid treatment with a defibrillator can be lifesaving. A defibrillator is a device that sends an electric shock to the heart to try to restore its normal rhythm.

Our Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can be used by bystanders to save the lives of people who are experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest. These portable devices are often found in public places, such as shopping malls, schools, airports and other businesses. Having an AED at your place of work could be potentially life saving.