Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function. Sudden death from cardiac arrest is a major health problem that has received much less publicity than heart attack. The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that about 250,000 people die each year of coronary heart disease without ever being hospitalized. That's because about half of all deaths from heart disease - more than 680 Americans each day, are sudden deaths caused by cardiac arrest. The AHA also estimates that more than 50,000 of these lives could be saved if lifesaving Automated External Defibrillators (AED) were more widely available. An AED is a small user-friendly device that recognizes hearth rhythms and if necessary, will advise the user to deliver a shock in order to restore normal heart rhythm. The current national survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is estimated at only five percent.

Watch a message about AEDs

 
  Windows Media Format   Flash Video Format