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Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, emergency medical services (EMS) treat about 383,000 victims of SCA before they reach the hospital. Less than 12 percent of those victims survive. SCA can happen to anyone at any time. It is important for organizations to implement AED programs so trained individuals are prepared to respond to an SCA emergency. Placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in key locations, and making sure employees are trained to use them, can mean the difference between life and death. Places such as schools are being equipped with AEDs.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have heart disease. SCA occurs instantly or shortly after symptoms appear. Most SCAs are due to abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. A common arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation, in which the heart’s electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic and ineffective. Blood flow to the brain stops abruptly; the victim then collapses and quickly loses consciousness. Death usually follows unless a normal heart rhythm is restored within minutes.
A victim’s chance of survival decreases by 10% for every minute that passes without defibrillation. That is why at Mandarin High School we have 4 AED's around the school for quick access and use in the event of an emergency.
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AED Locations:
- Field House (Training Room)
- Field House (Coaches Office/War Room)
- Gym (Closet located just outside the rear right double doors of the gym. The closet to the left.)
- Front Office
Signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest:
- Sudden Collapse
- Not Responsive
- Possible Seizures
- Agonal or absence of breathing
What to do in the event of this emergency?
- Call 911
- Get the AED or instruct someone else to get the AED while you start CPR.
- Continue CPR and follow the prompts of the AED until EMS arrives.
