American Heart Month Featuring the Chain of Survival

In the US, the month of February is typically associated with valentines and romance. It’s also when awareness about heart health is brought to the forefront, encouraging everyone to consider healthy choices when it comes to food, exercise and stress. One area of awareness, however, is just as important, and that’s being aware when someone around you has gone into sudden cardiac arrest.

The chain of survival is the best way to handle a cardiac arrest emergency. The six links walk you through the steps to take to increase the likelihood of survival of someone who has gone into SCA. If someone near you collapses, is not breathing and is unresponsive, taking quick action could mean the difference between life and death.

Call 911

If you are alone, call 911 while you go to retrieve an AED. If there are others around you, take a few seconds to direct one person to call 911 and send another to get an AED. Then you should:

Start CPR

Chest compressions are key to keeping oxygenated blood circulating throughout the body to the brain and vital organs. On an adult, press hard and fast between the nipples with the base of the palm of your hand, fingers of the other hand interlaced on top, arms straight, and use your upper body strength to press down. Singing the song “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees in your head will help keep you at the right pace. Keep this up until the AED arrives, then:

Use an AED

Turn the AED machine on and follow the directions. It will instruct you to remove clothes from the patient’s chest and place the electrode pads on the chest as shown in the diagram either on the pads or the packaging – one on the upper right shoulder, and one on the left side on the rib cage. Make sure the pads are adhered completely. The AED will tell you to stand back and not touch the patient so it can analyze the heart rhythm. If a shockable rhythm is detected it will instruct the rescuer to either push the flashing shock button or it will tell you it’s going to automatically shock the patient and to stand back so nobody is touching the patient. Keep following the instructions from the AED analyzing, shocking (or not shocking), and doing chest compressions until:

EMS arrives and takes over

Once EMS arrives, they will take over the care of the patient. You have done everything you could to help this person, and now they are in the hands of the professionals. Your quick action has tremendously increased their chances for survival. Once they have stabilized the patient, they will transport them to the:

Hospital and Specialized Care

Here they will receive the extra care and attention they need as they recover from their sudden cardiac arrest. Care may include medications, surgery, or other procedures. After that it’s on to:

Recovery

Recovery for themselves, recovery for their family as they adjust to the possible life changes they may all have to make, and recovery for the persons who may have stepped in to help them when they were unable to help themselves. It’s important to seek someone to talk to about the events that happen during a rescue if you find that it has affected your emotions since it is a stressful situation for all involved.

The hard reality is that not every patient has a 100% recovery. Every person is different, every circumstance is different, and not every outcome is perfect. But when the chain of survival is put into play, each link plays an important part in increasing the chances of someone who has gone into sudden cardiac arrest. By understanding these steps and contributing to them, perhaps you can help another person find their way to another February where they can enjoy Valentine’s Day with their loved ones.