Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest, an abrupt electrical disruption of the heart function usually produced by an arrhythmia, is a major cause of death in the United States. It is different from a heart attack, which occurs when a mechanical blockage of the coronary arteries decreases the blood supply to the heart muscle. Sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction of the heart that makes it quiver instead of beat. With this condition the heart no longer pumps blood and the body is deprived of oxygen. The key to surviving cardiac arrest is electricity (a shock from a defibrillator), which will hopefully restore the heart's normal rhythm. Scientific evidence shows that making AEDs widely available, in workplaces and in public locations, allows lay people to save lives. Every minute of delay before defibrillation decreases the likelihood of survival by 10 percent.

There is a cardiac arrest every four days in our region. One in ten is not transported. Only 5% survive, and improvements in the American Heart Association's "chain of survival" could increase that figure to 20%. There are four links in this chain for heart-attack and sudden cardiac arrest victims.

Early Access to emergency medical care, i.e., through 911
Early CPR to keep oxygen flowing to vital organs
Early Defibrillation to restore normal heart rhythm
Early Advanced Care

The AHA estimates that if the Chain of Survival were enhanced, 300 lives a day would be saved across the United States. The MMC OneSave program addresses the third link: Early Defibrillation.

Early defibrillation is a key component of the chain of survival. Only this electricity for life can save a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

An automated external defibrillator is a portable defibrillator designed to be used by people with minimal training, or even an untrained person. The device guides the user through a series of steps, and determines when a shock is necessary. It will not deliver a shock unless one is necessary. Scientific evidence shows that making AEDs widely available, in workplaces and in public locations, allows lay people to save lives. Maine Medical Center is bringing these devices to key locations in Greater Portland and is encouraging other organizations to provide this life-saving technology.