There are a few things that we can do as individuals to make sure that we stay at peak physical health. We can go for regular checkups, we can go to the gym or out on runs and bike-rides, we can cut down on bad habits such as smoking and heavy drinking, and we can eat nutritious foods as opposed to junk.
Creating a self-care plan and sticking to it will certainly help you to prevent potential illnesses and conditions that would be otherwise fatal, but even the healthiest among us are at risk of certain events. You can wear protective clothing if you work in dangerous places, and you can avoid potentially hazardous situations, but what about those health-factors that are simply out of your control?
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), for example, affects people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and levels of health. Even world-class athletes can fall victim to SCA: perhaps the most high-profile case in recent years is footballer Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed during a 2012 FA Cup match – aged just 23.
What is sudden cardiac arrest?
A healthy lifestyle works wonders in combating disease and illness, but there are some internal issues that cannot be predicted or avoided. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of those; it can happen to any person at any time, and isn’t necessarily a result of unhealthy lifestyle choices. News stories are always emerging about the different people who have suffered potentially fatal SCAs, and these instances highlight the fact that this particular cardiac event doesn’t discriminate.
As we mentioned above, famous athletes in peak physical condition have suffered cardiac arrests, so what exactly are cardiac arrests and how do they occur?
A sudden cardiac arrest is not to be confused with a heart attack, because a heart attack comes as a result of arterial issues and can usually be predicted by a medical professional before it happens (provided that the would-be victim has been examined by a doctor for such an issue). An SCA, on the other hand, is when the heart unexpectedly stops beating. This happens when the electrical signals that control your heartbeat become erratic, at which point you go into what’s known as ventricular fibrillation (VF).
This means that your heart ceases to pump blood to your essential organs, and your body will quickly begin to shut down unless your heart returns to its usual steady state.
What is an AED?
It doesn’t take long for an SCA to turn into a fatality, and the only treatment for it is to return the heart back to its usual rhythm. There are two elements involved in the treatment of an SCA: early defibrillation, and proper CPR.
Defibrillation is when you shock the heart of a victim back into a normal rhythm, allowing blood to flow naturally to essential organs, bringing the victim back to consciousness. This can only be achieved using a device called an automatic external defibrillator (AED).
CPR is the act of compressing the victim’s chest in such a way that it forces blood to pump around the body and to the essential organs. CPR alone will not restore the heart to its usual state – the only starting point for a permanent solution is defibrillation.
Because a victim’s chance of survival reduces by 10% as each minute passes, it isn’t always possible for the ambulance service to respond quickly enough. Because of this, bystander-responses usually mean the difference between life and death. Reassuringly for you as a bystander (and as a potential victim, for that matter), AEDs are designed with the general public in mind: units provide clear audio or visual instructions, including step-by-step guidance on the delivery of CPR.
AEDs: life-saving pieces of kit that should be everywhere
Due to the user-friendly design of public-access AEDs, thousands of lives have been saved by bystanders who have no medical experience. It’s important that you know where your nearest AED is located, because this will reduce the amount of time between the cardiac arrest happening and the vital treatment being delivered.
If you think that your workplace, community centre, or organisation doesn’t have easy-enough access to a life-saving AED, take a look at our range of defibrillators and improve your access.
defibshop are committed to equipping everyone with the skills and knowledge to save a life. Speak to one of our Product Specialists on 0161 776 7422 or fill out our Contact Form.
