March 5 - Athletic Training Month Resource of the Day

Prepare Guidelines For Emergency Planning and Management of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletics

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) ) is the leading cause of death in young athletes. To manage SCD during athletic practices and competitions, many health-related organizations have issued management guidelines.

In the event of sudden cardiac arrest, the strongest determinate of survival is the time from cardiac arrest to defibrillation. Access to defibrillation within three to five minutes is essential. Each minute lost reduces the chance of survival by approximately 10 percent. Increased training and the practicing of emergency action plans will help rescuers correctly identify sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and prevent critical delays in beginning resuscitation. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to athletes, officials, team staffs and spectators alike. It’s vital that comprehensive emergency planning, management and preparations are in place to ensure a timely and efficient response to SCA.

To see more information visit: http://atsnj.org/tags/cardiac