Sudden Cardiac Arrest

​What makes sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) a silent killer is that unlike a heart attack, which has the typical symptoms of chest pains and breathlessness, a cardiac arrest however, has no warning signs and symptoms. The only way to treat a SCA attack and to set the rapid heartbeat back to its normal pace is to deliver an electrical shock to the heart using a device called a defibrillator. For individuals who are identified as patients at a higher risk of suffering from a SCA attack, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a pocket-sized device which sends an electric current to the heart when the heart beat becomes abnormal, could be implanted in the body.

What to do if you witness a sudden cardiac arrest

In the event a person collapses from sudden cardiac arrest, the key to survival is early defibrillation. It has been found that each minute of delay before defibrillation reduces survival by about 10%.

To help a person who has collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest, the following steps have proven to be vital especially since time is precious:

1. Call 995 and stay on the line.
2. Check if it is safe to approach the victim; watch for road hazards etc.
3. Tell someone to get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
4. If possible, carefully lay the person flat on a hard surface like the ground.
5. Commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until help arrives.