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Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It strikes people of all ages who may seem to be healthy, even children and teens. When SCA happens, the person collapses and doesn’t respond or breathe normally. They may gasp or shake as if having a seizure. SCA leads to death in minutes if the person does not get help right away. Survival depends on people nearby calling 911, starting CPR, and using an AED (if available) as soon as possible.

While people often confuse the two, sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack are not the same thing. According to the American Heart Association, “a heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating. A heart attack is a ‘circulation’ problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an ‘electrical’ problem.”

An AED is an easy-to-use medical device that can be used to help a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. The device can analyze a heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock (defibrillation) to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency life-saving procedure performed when a person’s heart stops beating. When performed immediately, CPR can significantly increase the chance of survival after sudden cardiac arrest.

“Compression-only CPR” or “hands-only CPR” is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths and can be administered by the general public or bystanders who witness someone suddenly collapse. Hands-only CPR is recommended by the American Heart Association for use by people who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an out-of-hospital setting (such as at home, work, or in a park).