Saving Lives & the Chain of Survival
The American Heart Association is working to increase public awareness and support for a strong chain of survival for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The chain of survival is a sequence of actions that must be initiated as soon as a cardiac arrest is detected in order to save the person's life.
The four links in the chain of survival are:
1) Early Access to Care
When you recognize the signs for heart attack or find someone who is unresponsive, you must act quickly and call to activate the emergency medical service (EMS) system immediately by calling 911 so that appropriate emergency personnel can be dispatched to the scene. If the EMS system is quickly activated, a victim of heart attack or cardiac arrest has a better chance of surviving.
2) Early Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
If the victim is unresponsive, call 911 immediately. Then begin the steps of CPR by giving mouth-to-mouth breath and chest compressions to provide the oxygen and blood flow needed by the heart and brain. CPR is important because it can help sustain the victim until defibrillation (electric shock to the heart) can be provided.
3) Early Defibrillation
Defibrillation is the delivery of an electrical shock to stop the abnormal rhythm that caused the arrest. This allows the heart's normal rhythm to return. Early defibrillation is a very important therapy for most cardiac arrests. Cardiac arrest is often caused by an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) called ventricular fibrillation (VF). Cardiac arrest victims must receive CPR and defibrillation within 7 to 10 minutes. Otherwise the person is more likely to die, because the chance of survival is reduced by 7-10 percent for each minute that passes. Few attempts at resuscitation are successful after 10 minutes.
Easy-to-use-automated external defibrillators (AEDs) now make early defibrillation more possible, substantially strengthening this link in the chain of survival. The American Heart Association has set a goal of increasing cardiac arrest survival by shortening the time to defibrillation, placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the community, and increasing the number of lay rescuers trained in CPR and AED use.
The American Heart Association is working with businesses and other public facilities (such as airports, sports stadiums, shopping malls and other places where large numbers of people gather), encouraging them to purchase AEDs and train personnel in CPR and the use of AEDs.
4) Early Advanced Care
After defibrillation, many patients need highly trained medical personnel and equipment for advanced treatments, such as breathing support and cardiac drugs, on the scene, on the way to the hospital and at the hospital. Without them, some people may revert back to cardiac arrest.
The chain of survival starts with an alert person who recognizes the emergency and takes action. With this knowledge and these skills, you can become an effective and vital link in the chain of survival and you may save a life.
