Did you know sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States? SCA is a life-threatening emergency and occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, an individual collapses and does not respond or breathe normally. As October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, Indianapolis EMS (IEMS) wants everyone to know the difference between SCA and a heart attack, the importance of dialing 911 and starting CPR right away in the event of SCA.

Image courtesy of stopcardiacarrest.org

The survival of a SCA victim is dependent on immediate life saving measures such as CPR or the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and calling 911 immediately. By doing CPR or using an AED prior to the arrival of emergency medical services, the chances of survival increase for SCA victims. For more information about SCA, please visit https://stopcardiacarrest.org/. As always, IEMS reminds everyone to dial 911 for all emergency situations and encourages bystanders to take necessary lifesaving actions prior to the arrival of emergency medical services.