October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month: How You Can Be Ready to Save a Life

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to raise

awareness and learn how to help save lives.

That life-saving moment can come when you least expect it. I met a man recently whose life

was saved while he was running in Houston. A nurse witnessed him collapse on the side of the road due to sudden cardiac arrest. Acting quickly, the nurse called for help and kept him alive by using CPR for 6 minutes until EMS arrived and shocked him using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). That man has now become an advocate for CPR training, showing just how powerful knowing CPR can be.

Let's take a closer look at 5 important facts about SCA and what you can do to be prepared.

1. SCA Claims 1,000 Lives Daily in the U.S.

To put that into perspective, this is equivalent to two large plane crashes happening every single day. Unfortunately, SCA often occurs without warning, leaving little time to act. Immediate intervention, particularly through CPR, is crucial to improving survival rates. The numbers are staggering, but they remind us why learning CPR and understanding the risks of heart disease are so important.

2. More than Half of Americans Are Unaware of Heart Disease’s Leading Role

Despite heart disease being the leading cause of death in the U.S. for over a century, more than half of Americans (51%) are unaware of this fact. This lack of awareness highlights the need for education, especially when heart disease is often preventable through lifestyle changes. Many SCA events are triggered by ventricular fibrillation (VF), an abnormal heart rhythm that disrupts the heart’s ability to pump blood. VF is typically caused by coronary artery disease or heart attacks, both of which are manageable or even preventable with proper care.  

3. Survival Rates for SCA Are Low, but Immediate Action Can Help

The survival rates for people who experience sudden cardiac arrest are alarmingly low, with only about 8-10% of people surviving. To put it another way, the chance of dying from SCA is roughly 90-92%. This is why knowing CPR and having access to an AED is so important—because it buys time until professional medical help arrives. Survival rates increase significantly when bystanders are able to perform CPR and use an AED promptly.  

4. CPR and AEDs Can Boost Survival Chances by Over 70%

The good news is that immediate CPR, combined with the use of an AED, can drastically improve a person’s chance of survival during cardiac arrest. CPR keeps blood and oxygen flowing to the brain and other vital organs, while an AED delivers a shock to reset the heart's rhythm. These first few minutes are critical, and if CPR is performed quickly—especially within the first three minutes—survival chances can soar from 10% to over 70%. AEDs are now commonly found in airports, schools, workplaces, and public buildings, and it's essential to have a plan to use one whenever large groups of people are gathered. This is why learning CPR and knowing where to find an AED is so crucial for all of us.

5. Reduce Your Risk with Lifestyle Changes

You can take several steps to reduce your risk of developing coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and ultimately, sudden cardiac arrest. Here are some simple but effective ways to protect your heart:

• Avoid using any kind of tobacco: cigarettes, pipes, cigars, vaping and spit tobacco are all equally as hazardous. Tobacco users have a 70% greater chance of having a sudden death heart attack.

• Manage blood pressure: Normal blood pressure is typically around 120/80 mmHg. Readings above this level are considered elevated and can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Currently, more than 45% of Americans have high blood pressure, and approximately 38% of those individuals may not be aware of their condition.

• Reduce your cholesterol: Focus on your LDL and HDL levels rather than just the total cholesterol number. To manage these effectively, prioritize whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and healthy protein sources such as chicken, fish, red meat, and tofu. Additionally, aim to limit processed foods and alcohol as much as possible.

• Get physically active: There’s no need to train for a marathon to improve your fitness and health. Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of low to moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic activity each week. Remember, any amount of activity is beneficial! Low to moderate intensity options include walking your dog, gardening, cycling, cleaning your home, dancing, or even marching in place. Every bit of movement contributes to lowering your risk of heart disease.

• Improve your social connections: Strengthening your social ties can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and promote healthy behaviors. Research dating back to 1979 has shown that people who have fewer social connections have a higher risk of mortality from various causes, including heart disease.

Want to Learn CPR or Need a Refresher?

There’s no better time to get trained in CPR than now. Join the American Heart Association for World Restart A Heart Day on Wednesday, October 16, where they’ll be offering free hands-only CPR training at 18 locations across Houston. The goal is to train more than 35,000 people! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn a skill that can save lives. Click here to sign up.

If you’re interested in learning more, getting certified, or arranging a CPR class, feel free to email me at cprandsafetylady@gmail.com.