Cardiac arrest

The heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

What is cardiac arrest?

The heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

60,000
cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year in Canada
1 in 10
survives an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
2x
Doing CPR and using an AED can double a person’s chance of survival
Olivier Lanthier shows the scar from his heart transplantt.
Olivier Lanthier shows the scar from his heart transplantt.

“As a child, I thought that my scar proved that I was a superhero.”

Olivier Lanthier

Read his story

Signs of cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any age, often without warning.

  1. Sudden collapse

  2. Loss of consciousness

  3. Unresponsiveness to touch or sound

  4. Not breathing normally or making gasping sounds

When the heart stops beating, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. Brain injury can begin within five  minutes.

Only fast action – doing CPR and using an AED – can double the chance of survival.

How to save a life in 90 seconds 

Do you have a couple minutes? That's enough to learn the basics of CPR and how to use an AED. Watch our short video below.

Fighting to restart more hearts

Every second counts, a new Heart & Stroke report, reveals the critical state of cardiac arrest in Canada and how we can save more lives.

Cardiac arrest survivor Robert Marien

What should you do if someone has a cardiac arrest?

Act fast because it’s a medical emergency and every second counts.

1.  Phone 9-1-1 (or your local emergency response number) and shout for an AED. 

2.  Start CPR right away – push hard and fast in the centre of the chest. 

3.  Use an AED as soon as one is available.

Don’t wait for EMS to arrive – response times can be 6 or more minutes in urban centres and longer for northern and remote communities.
 

Who is at risk?

Cardiac arrest can happen to:
- anyone
- anywhere
- any time
- at any age
- often without warning.

 

The difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack

Cardiac arrest and  heart attack are not the same thing, although people often confuse the terms. Both are medical emergencies.

 

What is it?

Cardiac arrest

Heart attack

The heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating

The heart is not getting enough blood so it starts to die

Caused by an abnormal heart rhythm

Caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart

The heart stops pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs

The heart continues to pump blood

It is a critical medical emergency

It is a medical emergency

Every minute without CPR or AED use decreases the person’s chance of survival by about 10%

Damage to the heart increases with every minute of treatment delay

Brain injury can begin within five minutes 

 

 

 

What does it look like?

Cardiac arrest

Heart attack

Sudden collapse

Person is generally conscious.

Loss of consciousness

Signs include:

Unresponsiveness to touch or sound

Chest or upper body discomfort, sweating nausea, shortness of breath, and light-headedness.

Not breathing normally or making gasping sounds.

 

 

What to do?

Cardiac arrest

Heart attack

Call 9-1-1 and shout for a defibrillator

Call 9-1-1

Start CPR right away

Stop all activity. Sit or lie down

Use an AED as soon as one is located

Take your nitroglycerin

Don't hesitate to act. You can’t hurt, you can only help. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Chew ASA (Aspirin) (one 325 mg or two 81 mg tablets).

Rest and wait.

 

A heart attack can lead to a cardiac arrest if it is severe enough

 

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