| <No.596> |
| New Recommendations to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival |
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When someone's heart stops beating,
every second counts.
"A cardiac arrest is
where the very mechanical beating of the heart stops suddenly
and that is an emergency
that will be death producing
if it's not corrected in minutes."
Dr. Lance Becker sat on the committee
that reviewed cardiac arrest procedures
for the U.S. Institute of Medicine.
Cardiac arrest is not a heart attack,
although it can lead to one.
A heart attack is caused
by a blocked artery
that cuts off the blood supply
to the heart muscle.
It's not necessarily deadly.
Cardiac arrest occurs
when the rhythm of the heart is disrupted.
The chance of survival is less than six percent,
when it happens outside the hospital setting.
To improve the odds,
Dr. Becker says the study group issued recommendations
that involve hospitals, emergency responders and the public.
"The most important thing for America
is to have a full system
that can start right out on the street."
The recommendations include more training
so ordinary citizens can deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR,
to get the heart started again.
They could also learn to use an automated external defibrillator,
a machine that delivers an electrical shock to the heart
in an effort to return it to its normal rhythm.
In addition, the study group wants to establish a national registry
to monitor performance, identify problems,
and track progress
in treating cardiac arrest.
"It really includes the whole system of care
with early recognition, early CPR,
getting to the hospital,
and then the data collection
so that their end can see
how well they are doing,
and do they need to improve or strengthen their chain of response."
Right now, only about three percent of Americans get annual CPR training
and even fewer know how to use a defibrillator.
Dr. Becker says
because of increased incidents of cardiac arrest
in developing countries,
both governments and an international resuscitation group are also interested
in finding ways
to provide better care
after cardiac arrest
and save lives.
Carol Pearson, VOA News, Washington |
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