Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is caused by the immediate loss of electrical heart function, usually from an irregular and rapid quivering of the ventricles (called ventricular fibrillation). Anyone can get struck with a cardiac arrest, even children and infants. The best way to deal with cardiac emergencies is by going for CPR classes, especially for a PALS class Cincinnati on the part of advanced healthcare providers in order to deal with pediatric emergencies successfully.
Your training center should be an accredited one such as the AHA accredited CPR Cincinnati which comprises of some of the most qualified instructors. CPR is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths and proper application can revive the life of a victim in the middle of a cardiac emergency.
PALS Training Classes- This is the American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support class. Healthcare providers and medical professionals who are required to have a PALS certification can take this one day course in local Cincinnati, Ohio. Often this course is taught in two days, however CPR Cincinnati offers small, stress–free classes that allow for a one day certification.
The program fee is $297.
Although SCA is rare in children, it can affect anyone, even those who are physically fit. Each year, SCA claims the lives of over 2,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. and accounts for approximately 3-5 percent of all deaths in children aged 5-19 years. It is also responsible for 10-15 percent of sudden unexpected infant deaths.
Some of the risk factors of SCA in children include:
SCA most commonly occurs in children between 10-19 years of age. It is important to note that SCA may occur in children of all ages, even infants.
Some of the other risk factors include:
I. A family history of known heart abnormalities; sudden death before 50 years of age; unexplained fainting or seizures; conditions known to cause SCA like such as long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) or other familial cardiomyopathies.
II. Obesity and high blood pressure.
III. Structural heart abnormalities or congenital heart disease.
IV. Exposure to drugs, medications, toxins and infectious agents, including cocaine, inhalants, recreational or club drugs, and some prescription medications.
V. A sudden blow to the chest.
VI. Known abnormal heart rhythms like rapid ventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response.
VII. Any sort of athletic activity. You should note that SCA is the leading cause of death in young athletes which accounts for 5 percent of all athlete-related deaths.
Treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest:
SCA requires immediate attention and time delayed increases the risk for a victim. You should immediately call for the emergency medical services by dialing 911 and start CPR if your child suddenly collapses and does not awaken right away.
I. Start CPR with immediate effect which manually pumps blood around the body and maintains the circulation, allowing blood with oxygen to reach the body organs and brain, until a normal heart beat can be restored. Hands-only CPR is most effective when performed right after the collapse and when an AED is also applied quickly.
II. An AED can deliver an electric shock through the chest (which travels to the heart) to halt the abnormal, ineffective rhythm thus enabling restoration of normal heart rhythm.
III. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) - An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a small computerized device with an energy source for defibrillation or pacing. A pediatric cardiologist might implant a defibrillator in a child or adolescent who has had a SCA or is thought to be at risk for having a SCA to prevent SCD.
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