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Sudden Cardiac Arrest & AEDs Facts About Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Facts About Defibrillation Purchasing AEDs AED Funding & Grant Sources
Links of Interest Get Involved
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States. 325,000 people die each year as a result of SCA. SCA is the leading cause of death among athletes. Emergency preparedness, including access to early defibrillation, is critical to managing episodes of SCA. According to the American Heart Association, only 5% of SCA victims survive. Defibrillation within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse is optimal. For every minute of delay in defibrillation, survival rates decrease by 7-10 %. Within 4 to 6 minutes, brain death and permanent death can occur. After 10-12 minutes, most victims are beyond help. It is not reasonable to believe that an individual could be treated with defibrillation within 5 minutes of collapse by an emergency response crew after calling 911. For this reason alone, it is vital that automated external defibrillators (AED’s) be available in public places where there are large numbers of people, including sporting events. Although the health and safety of athletes is a primary concern of our members, the CATA is in complete support of AED’s being available at all times during and after the school day in Connecticut. An AED is a computerized medical device that can be used to treat a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. An AED evaluates the victim’s heart rhythm, determines if shock is needed and delivers an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. Audio and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process.
Facts about Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
- 325,000 people die each year as a result of SCA.
- SCA can affect healthy individuals of all ages.
- SCA is the leading cause of death among athletes.
- Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack.
- A heart attack is caused by a blockage in an artery supplying blood to the heart.
- SCA occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, due to a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system that causes the heart to go into ventricular fibrillation (VF).
- The most effective treatment for VF is defibrillation.
- According to the American Heart Association, only 5% of SCA victims survive.
- Defibrillation within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse is optimal.
- For every minute of delay in defibrillation, survival rates decrease by 7-10 %.
- After 10-12 minutes, most victims are beyond help.
- Access to early defibrillation is critical in saving lives.
NOTE: The CATA does not endorse a particular AED, but encourages anyone purchasing an AED to do research on the product and not to buy based on a single criteria (like price).
- AED’s cost between $1000-1500 each.
- The CATA has negotiated special Association pricing with AED vendors. Please click on the links below for more information.
Note: The CATA is not endorsing any external grant program. The following links are provided for information only. Due diligence should be taken to investigate funding sources, as well as the normal price range for the particular models being considered.
Be Aware of False AED Grant Programs
Some AED merchants use False Grants as a sales tactic. The merchant may recommend or offer a particular AED at what is actually an inflated price. You may be told that only certain models are available. Your “grant” will be for a discounted price for the AED, and will result in your purchasing the model at the normal price. (Example: You are told that AED “ABC” costs $2500. Your “grant” is for $1000. While you think you’re getting a deal, the AED really costs $1500). As always: “buyer beware!”
Links to grant programs:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Phillips Heart Start Giving Program
Investigate local resources like:
Lions, Elks, Rotary, Jaycees, Shriners
School booster clubs
Team booster clubs
Parent groups
PTA
Fundraising ideas
Donate gate proceeds from one football game toward an AED purchase
50/50 raffle at a game with funds going toward an AED purchase
“Collect a buck” from…everyone
Car washes
Walk-a-thon
NOTE: The links below are provided for information purposes only. The CATA is not responsible for any content posted on an external web site.
NATA Official Statement on Automated External Defibrillators
NATA Official Statement on Commotio Cordis
Larry Pontbriant Athletic Safety Fund
Get Involved with the CATA “AEDs for Schools” Campaign
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Educate parents, athletes, coaches, school administrators and other
members of the public about SCA & AEDs.
2. Collect “AEDs for Schools” postcards from CT voters.
3. E-mail your Connecticut state legislators in favor of AEDs in schools.
You can make a difference!
To join the CATA “AEDs for Schools” campaign, or for more information (including AED postcards), contact:
Vicky Graham, CATA President-Elect
Vicky.graham@ctathletictrainers.org
860/685-3980
- The CATA, with its professional allies and other like-minded individuals, will be working for legislation that will insure that AEDs are accessible in schools in Connecticut, during the upcoming session of the General Assembly (starts Jan. 2009).
- The Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association (CATA) is in favor of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) being accessible in every school building in Connecticut, during and after the school day.
- The CATA is in favor of AEDs being accessible for school-sponsored athletic practices and events, including those held outside.
- 10 states currently have laws that require schools to have AEDs. Several others require AEDs to be available for school-sponsored athletic events.
- AED’s in public places, especially schools, will save lives!