Community Action Guide
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, cutting off blood flow to the brain. There are over 60,000 sudden cardiac arrests in Canada each year, and over 8,000 occur in BC. Only 5-7% return home alive from the hospital.
Canadian urban emergency response time is 7 minutes, or longer in more remote areas, and every minute counts.
The best chance of survival from cardiac arrest is when there is: (1) rapid recognition of cardiac arrest and initiation of bystander CPR; and (2) application of a bystander AED.
A strong community of rescuers can significantly affect whether a person survives a cardiac arrest. We encourage all communities to be Response Ready! Below are components of a community action plan to improve cardiac arrest outcomes.
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