What is a cardiac arrest?

What is a sudden cardiac arrest ?

For someone in cardiac arrest, every minute counts. Know what you can do to help save a life.

What is sudden cardiac arrest ?

A sudden cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating. The brain and vital organs don’t get enough oxygen . The person will be unresponsive and not breathing (or not breathing normally).

A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency but quick action from bystanders can improve a person’s chance of survival. Every minute counts when a person is in cardiac arrest.

How can I help someone in cardiac arrest?

If you think someone is in cardiac arrest, follow the steps of Call, Push, Shock:

• Call Triple Zero (000) immediately. The operator will talk you through what you need to do, including how to perform CPR.

• Push hard and fast in the middle of the person’s chest to deliver CPR.

• Use an AED to deliver a shock as soon as possible. Anyone can use an AED; you don’t need special training. The device will talk you through the steps you need to take.

Remember, any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt. If you think a person is in cardiac arrest, your quick action can give them the best chance of survival. Call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

What causes a cardiac arrest?

Your heart’s electrical system controls the rate and rhythm of its pumping. A cardiac arrest is usually caused by an electrical malfunction in your heart’s electrical system that causes your heart to stop pumping.

Although coronary heart disease is a common cause of sudden cardiac arrest, other causes include trauma, breathing problems, drowning, electrocution, allergic reactions or other medical conditions. Sometimes there’s no clear cause of a cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest can happen at all ages but is most common in people over the age of 70.

How common is a cardiac arrest?

A cardiac arrest can happen to any of us.

Almost 80% of cardiac arrests that occur out of hospital occur in people’s homes, but a cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, at any time.

Every year in Australia, more than 26,000 people have a cardiac arrest out of hospital, and only about 10% of these people survive.

What are the signs and symptoms of a cardiac arrest?

A cardiac arrest happens suddenly and rapidly. It often occurs with no warning. The person in cardiac arrest will:

• collapse and fall to the ground
• lose consciousness and become non-responsive
• not be breathing normally or not at all - it may sound like they are choking, gasping or gurgling.

What is the difference between a sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack?

A sudden cardiac arrest is different to a heart attack. We explain the differences below. Remember, it is important to call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you think someone is having a heart attack or is in cardiac arrest.

• A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery, which supplies blood to your heart, becomes blocked. This causes damage to the heart muscle. The main cause of a heart attack is coronary heart disease. A person experiencing a heart attack will usually be alert, breathing, and complaining of chest pain or other symptoms. Their heart is still beating. Read more about the warning signs of a heart attack.

• Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating. It is usually caused by an electrical problem inside the heart, but there are other causes too. If someone is in cardiac arrest, they will be unresponsive (unconscious) and not breathing normally, or at all. Sometimes a heart attack can lead to a sudden cardiac arrest. If you or someone is having a suspected heart attack, getting help as soon as possible can help prevent a cardiac arrest.

Head to Heart of the Nation’s Cardiac Arrest facts page to learn more.

What is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?

CPR is a combination of mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and chest compressions.

CPR helps to keep blood and oxygen circulating to the brain of a person whose heart has stopped beating, until the heart can be restarted.

CPR alone does not restore a normal heart rhythm. It does help keep the heart in a state where the AED has a greater chance of being able to do its job.

Compressions-Only CPR (COCPR) is CPR without rescue breaths (also known as ‘hands only CPR’). Both types of CPR double the person’s survival rates.

Remember, any attempt at resuscitation is better than none.

What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)?

An AED is a portable electronic device that can detect life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms. These abnormal heart rhythms can cause a cardiac arrest.

An AED can help treat these abnormal heart rhythms by giving an electric shock to the heart. The idea is to ‘shock’ the heart back to a normal rhythm. This is known as defibrillation.

AEDs are smart – they will only give a shock if it is necessary. You cannot do any harm by using an AED on someone who is unconscious. An AED will not shock someone when a normal heartbeat is detected.

AEDs will also give simple step-by-step instructions. This means anyone can use an AED, even if you’ve never seen or used one before.

What happens after a cardiac arrest?

After a cardiac arrest, your doctor will try to discover its cause. They might arrange tests including imaging, blood tests and genetic testing. They may also want to test your immediate family members for any underlying conditions or risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest.

Your doctor will also discuss treatment options with you to reduce your risk of having another cardiac arrest.

There are people who have survived a cardiac arrest and gone on to live a healthy, fulfilling life. By joining our MyHeart MyLife online community, you can connect with people across Australia who are on a similar recovery journey.

Watch David’s cardiac arrest survivor story