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The Basics
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when the electrical signals in the heart suddenly stop. In young adults, this is most commonly caused by an arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) or cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart). The symptoms of SCA include fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, fast/pounding heart beat, nausea, and loss of consciousness. What does sudden cardiac arrest look like? A person will lose consciousness. They may take gasping breaths, have shaky body movements, or blue lips and hands. Please view the videos below to see real footage of a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. |
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How common is sudden cardiac arrest in young adults?
The exact number of youth that suffer from sudden cardiac arrest is unknown because of how often it goes unreported or under-analyzed. In 2020, the National Emergency Medical Services Information System conducted a study that estimates over 23,000 children under the age of 18 suffer a sudden cardiac arrest each year in the United States.
How do I prevent sudden cardiac arrest?
There are personal and community measures that you can take.
The exact number of youth that suffer from sudden cardiac arrest is unknown because of how often it goes unreported or under-analyzed. In 2020, the National Emergency Medical Services Information System conducted a study that estimates over 23,000 children under the age of 18 suffer a sudden cardiac arrest each year in the United States.
How do I prevent sudden cardiac arrest?
There are personal and community measures that you can take.
- Get an electrocardiogram (ECG) screening. These scans can detect underlying conditions that put you at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac on Campus hosts free ECG screenings at least once per semester.
- Get CPR certified. This training is directly related to an individual's chances of survival and full recovery following a sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac on Campus offers free CPR certification courses multiple times per month.
- Support organizations that place automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and spread awareness about the importance of AEDs. For every minute that a victim goes without AED intervention, their chances of survival decrease by 10%. Cardiac on Campus has placed 11 AEDs in the UW-Madison area and continues to raise funds to place more.
- Advocate for legislature that supports CPR training in schools, AEDs in schools, and ECG screenings for youth.
