Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Without warning Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen anywhere, at anytime, to anyone. And it is almost always fatal. SCA affects 4,000 Minnesotan's annually.

For every 100 patients that arrive in the ER in cardiac arrest and have been treated with CPR:

  • 95 die
  • 2 to 3 survive a few days
  • 1 to 2 have a chance of full recovery
These statistics are a tragic reality and you are in a unique position to help make a difference. Community education can significantly improve cardiac arrest survival. People in your community need to know how common cardiac arrest is and that there are rarely warning signs. Early recognition of the cardiac arrest (calling 911) as well as early CPR and defibrillation (AED use) can save lives. Waiting for 911 rescuers to defibrillate results in death 96% of the time. When a lay rescuer responds to the side of the SCA victim with an AED and delivers a shock within the first two minutes, the success rate is 85%. This is called Public Access Defibrillation. That's why Advanced First Aid, Inc. launched Heart Safe Communities as an effort to prevent death from SCA by placing Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) where people live, work and play. The program helps communities and organizations:
  • Educate citizens about SCA, CPR, AED & protection from Good Samaritan Laws
  • Implement Public Access Defibrillation programs by placing AED's in all businesses, schools and other public places where people assemble
  • Train people how to use the AED, CPR (mainly chest compressions) to save more lives