Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are the ONLY Cure to Combat SCA
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and around the world. It strikes without warning and affects people from every walk of life—regardless of age, race, gender, nationality, or even health profile. That’s what makes SCA especially dangerous—and why communities need to be equipped with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) nearby wherever people are – both indoors and outside.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest: What’s the Big Deal and Why the Urgency?
According to the American Heart Association, more than 356,000 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the U.S. every year, and nearly 90% of those cases are fatal. Most of its victims never showed any symptoms and otherwise appeared healthy. Whereas heart attacks are caused by a ‘plumbing’ problem (arteries are clogged and blood can’t flow normally), SCA is caused by an electrical malfunction that causes the heart to ‘fibrillate’ or quiver, and it suddenly stops beating. The main reason that the national ‘out-of-hospital’ SCA survival rate has remained at less than 10% for decades is because there aren’t enough AEDs where people are- including outdoors.
The Facts- SCA Doesn’t Discriminate:
- It affects all ages. While it’s more common in adults over 35, youth and young athletes are not immune. According to the American Heart Association, it is estimated that as many as 23,000 young people under age 25 in the U.S. die each year due to SCA.
- It cuts across health profiles. Even people who appear perfectly healthy and active can fall victim to SCA. Genetic heart conditions, electrical abnormalities, or undiagnosed cardiovascular structural issues are most often to blame.
- It impacts all ethnic and racial groups. Research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that Black and Hispanic individuals are significantly less likely to receive bystander CPR or have access to an AED—despite having higher rates of SCA in some communities.
- It knows no boundaries. SCA can strike anyone, anywhere, anytime: in schools, at work, in church, at home, on the athletic field, and in cities, suburbs or rural areas.
- It’s not just about men. While men are typically thought to suffer more predominately from heart issues, the fact is that women are just as likely as men to succumb to SCA, especially as they get older.
- Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors, strangers, etc. The list goes on and on. ALL are victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Immediate Access to AEDs Saves Lives, including Outdoors
While Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is essential to help blood flow to vital organs after an SCA event, the only real cure for SCA is an electrical shock from an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) within minutes. For every minute without CPR and defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by 7–10%. Sadly, fewer than 1 in 10 people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, primarily because AEDs aren’t located close enough to where people live, work, and play. This includes placing public access AEDs outside in parks, athletic fields and courts, town centers, trails, beaches, marinas, and anywhere people gather.
- When an AED is used within the first few minutes of SCA, survival rates can be as high as 70%.
- Communities that equip all public areas with AEDs- including outdoors inside highly visible, temperature-controlled and 24×7 monitored cabinets can significantly improve SCA survival rates by 50% or more- across both urban and rural settings.
- We shouldn’t consider Sudden Cardiac Arrests as a rare or isolated event. SCA is the single largest natural cause of death in the US, claiming more lives annually than Alzheimer’s, assault with firearms, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, HIV, motor vehicle accidents, and prostate cancer…combined!
The Call to Action…It’s Time to Change the Game
There are an abundance of stories in the media about how having an AED saved a precious life, or worse, how not having an AED nearby resulted in a tragic death. Sudden Cardiac Arrest affects everyone, and it doesn’t wait for a convenient moment to strike. The time to act is now. Be the change agent and talk to your local school, town council, and park district administrators. Promoting widespread AED availability isn’t just about individual safety- it’s about working with your school and community leaders to increase preparedness and improve public health.
SaveHeart by Heart Nation was founded to improve survival rates and eliminate unnecessary sudden cardiac death by working with schools and communities to place AEDs outside in highly visible, 24/7 accessible, smart-monitored AED cabinets. These cabinets aren’t just a “nice-to-have.” While AEDs should be as prevalent as the fire extinguisher, SaveHeart’s rugged, all-weather, 24×7 outdoor monitored AED cabinets should be thought of as an essential public safety requirement.
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