Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm. Breathing stops. The person becomes unconscious. Without immediate treatment, sudden cardiac arrest leads to death.

Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked – a plumbing problem. Sudden cardiac arrest is a problem with the electric activity from the brain to the heart that  makes the heart fibrillate, or quiver – an electrical problem. SCA can happen to anyone, at any time, regardless of age, gender, health, ethnicity or geography.

Emergency treatment for sudden cardiac arrest includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shocks to the heart with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Survival is possible with fast, appropriate medical care. 9 out of 10 SCA’s are fatal. For every minute that passes without treatment survival chance decreases by 10%.  With treatment started within three to five minutes of collapse survival rates increase from 6% to 74%.

You can be prepared by having a publicly accessible AED in your workplace, community or leisure facility.  

Not sure where to start?  

By filling in 12 simple questions on our product finder, we will help you decide the best unit for your environment.

A sample of  the quick and easy questions include:

• How many sites do you have?
• Will the defibrillator be located in a noisy environment?
• Will the defibrillator have a fixed location or be regularly transported?

Still unsure? 

Watch this video about a scenario choice.  Which would you choose?

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If you would like to connect with one of ourproduct specialists to run through your requirements or ask further questions, please email savealife@defibshop.co.uk or call 0161 776 7422 and one of our team will be happy to help you.