Cardiac Arrest Education
Cardiac Arrest Education
Georgia law requires that schools provide information on sudden cardiac arrest, as well as the signs and symptoms to look out for.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart
rhythm. Breathing stops. The person becomes unconscious. Without immediate treatment,
sudden cardiac arrest can lead to death. Emergency treatment for sudden cardiac arrest
includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shocks to the heart with a device called
an automated external defibrillator (AED). Survival is possible with fast, appropriate
medical care. Sudden cardiac arrest isn't the same as a heart attack. A heart attack
happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. Sudden cardiac arrest is not
due to a blockage. However, a heart attack can cause a change in the heart's electrical
activity that leads to sudden cardiac
arrest.
Sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning.
Symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest are immediate and severe and include:
● Sudden collapse.
● No pulse.
● No breathing.
● Loss of consciousness.
Sometimes other warning signs can occur before sudden cardiac arrest. These might
include:
● Chest discomfort.
● Shortness of breath.
● Weakness.
● Fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart called palpitations.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Mayo Clinic 1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/symptoms-