Sudden Cardiac Arrest
in Intercollegiate Athletics
Are you prepared?
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death
in exercising young athletes
• Sudden cardiac death occurs in 1:43,000
NCAA student-athletes per year
• The chance of survival decreases by 10%
every minute after collapse
• The average EMS response time is 6-8 minutes
• The single greatest factor affecting survival is
the time from cardiac arrest to defibrillation
(shock)
• AEDs improve survival through early
defibrillation
Screening
• Student-athletes are required to have a preparticipation physical examination.
• The traditional screen includes:
o
o
History (chest pain or passing out with exercise)
Physical exam (blood pressure, heart sounds)
• Some schools perform EKG
(electrocardiogram) to increase detection of
athletes with at-risk conditions
o
•
Appropriate experience and resources are
important for EKG screening to be utilized
effectively
Insert institutional screening policy here if applicable
Emergency Planning
Written Emergency Action Plan
for SCA
Emergency communication
system
Trained responders in CPR/AED
AED locations – all staff
awareness
Access to early defibrillation
(<3-5 min collapse to shock)
Practice and review of the
response plan at least annually
Integrate AEDS into local EMS
system
Emergency Action Plan
Essential elements of an emergency
action plan include:
• (insert specific institutional plans for all of
the following)
• Methods of communication
• Personnel requiring CPR and AED training
• Locations of AEDs for early defibrillation
• Practice and review of the response plan
Chain of Survival
Early
Early
Early
Recognition
CPR
AED
Improved
Survival
Recognition of SCA
• SCA should be suspected in any athlete
who is collapsed and unresponsive
• SCA should be suspected in any nontraumatic collapse
• Brief seizure-like activity is common after
collapse from SCA
• Seizure = SCA until proven otherwise
• Occasional gasping is not normal
breathing… think SCA
Early CPR
• CPR can double or triple
the chance of survival
• < 1/3 of SCA victims
receive bystander CPR
• 2010 AHA guidelines
o
o
Hands-only CPR
Chest compressions

Push hard, push fast (100
per minute)
AEDs in Sport
• AEDs provide a means of early defibrillation
and the potential for effective
management of SCA
Athletes
o Students
o Staff
o Spectators
o Coaches
o Officials
o Visitors
o
2007
The Collapsed and Unresponsive Athlete
Management of SCA
• Suspect SCA in any
collapsed and
unresponsive
athlete
• An AED should be
applied as soon as
possible for rhythm
analysis and shock if
indicated
Drezner; Heart Rhythm 2007
Steps in the Management of
SCA
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Recognize SCA
Call for help / Call 9-1-1
Begin chest compressions (CPR)
Retrieve the AED
Apply and use the AED as soon as
possible
6. Continue CPR until EMS arrives
Resources
Inter-Association Task Force Recommendations on
Emergency Preparedness and Management of
Sudden Cardiac Arrest in High School and College
Athletic Programs: A Consensus Statement. Journal of
Athletic Training 2007;42(1):143–158
NCAA Health and Safety
• http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOB
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