Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the prime risk factor for the occurrence of SCA or sudden cardiac arrest. All those who have been victims of SCA are found to be suffering from some degree of CAD. But unfortunately, until SCA occurs, they do not even come to know that they are suffering from CAD. This is because the CAD is silent and it does not manifest any symptoms.

It is the reason that it has also been found that prior to SCA, the victims has already had a silent heart attack which they haven’t even realized. In fact, the maximum possibility of having an SCA is during the first six months after a heart attack.

Statistics reveal that every year, between 250,000 and 450,000 Americans are said to suffer from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and Ninety-five percent of these people die within minutes. More information regarding the disease and its treatment can be obtained at www.AmericanMedSupply.com

There are several risk factors that aid in the development CAD and therefore gradually lead to the possibility of SCA. They are –

· A habit of chain smoking

· A history of early cardio-vascular disease running in the family. This means a situation where your father or brother is diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 55, or your mother or sister is diagnosed with a heart disease before the age of 65.

· Diabetes

· High blood cholesterol

· Hugh blood pressure

· Obesity and overweight

· Sedentary life style with extreme lack of physical activity

· Age increase – the risk rises after 45 years for men and after 55 years for women.

The factors that genuinely results in SCA are:

· A personal or family history of members having suffered SCA

· An enlarged heart or other birth defects of the heart or blood vessels

· Arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms

· Heart failure

· Drug abuse even if it is recreational

While sudden cardiac arrest is not as common of an occurrence in school-aged children as it is in many other segments of the population, particularly those in their early to middle age, it is something which happens and usually does so without warning.

This is a tragedy which is largely preventable, at least if the proper equipment is on hand. The first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are critical; and it can take some time for emergency personnel to arrive on the scene – by which time it may be too late! Every school nationwide should have several automatic external defibrillators on hand to avert these rare but heartrending tragedies from occurring.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the result of the electrical impulses which regulate the heartbeat and essentially tell the heart to continue performing its vital duty of pumping blood throughout the body being disrupted. This disruption causes in immediate cessation of heartbeat – at this point, the victim is clinically dead and unless action is taken immediately, they will remain so.

There is often not nearly enough time to wait for EMTs or paramedics to arrive in the case of a sudden cardiac arrest. The survival rate in victims of sudden cardiac arrest is less than 10%, unless they can receive immediate attention, typically involving a defibrillator. These devices are quite literally lifesavers and as such should be close at hand in every school.

A variety of congenital heart diseases and abnormalities can lead to incidences of sudden cardiac arrest in the young, especially following athletics and other strenuous activities. Needless to say, every parent of a student athlete must insist that automatic external defibrillators be on hand both at practices and meets or other sporting events for the protection of their and other children.

Sudden cardiac arrest can also happen as a result of strenuous activity combined with rapid growth (such as seen in teenagers). For your child’s sake, you should demand that your child’s school has this equipment.

Automatic external defibrillators also offer an educational opportunity to teaching staff with in schools. Students can be instructed on their proper use, preferably as part of a comprehensive first aid and emergency lesson. If students know how to use this equipment if called upon in an emergency, lives can be saved.

As a parent yourself, you know how important the safety of your children is to you. At your next parent’s night at your school, discuss the option of getting automatic external defibrillators for your child’s school – you can approach school administration about the idea at a PTA meeting or a session of your local school board. These are items which need to be in every school nationwide and can save parents the nightmare of losing a child.

AmericanMedSupply.com is the leading supplier of Automatic External Defibrillators, AED Batteries, AED Pads, AED Cabinets, and AED Medical Direction in the US. Discover how a simple AED can save your life, or the life of a loved one, go to www.AmericanMedSupply.com and get your *free* copy of “AED Life Alert”.

The electrical system of the heart suffers a short circuit due to the sudden strike of a cardiac arrest. The heart begins to quiver instead of pumping in its normal rhythm. This abnormal heart rhythm is known as ventricular fibrillation (VF). As the name suggests, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) strikes without prior warning. It often happens at home with people who are not well aware of the recognized symptoms of heart disease. In order to ensure the maximum chances of survival, from SCA and caused by VF, a defibrillator must be used within five minutes.

The Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator from ActiveForever.com is manufactured by Philips, the pioneer in portable defibrillation technology. It is designed for the benefit of the ordinary person who unfortunately is a victim of an extraordinary moment. It is the most reliable and easy to use defibrillator available.

It is a small, lightweight defibrillator which weighs about 3.3 lbs. it is fitted with clear and natural voice instructions to guide the user through each step of defibrillation and CPR. It has got Integrated Smart Pads which when placed on the patient’s bare skin. More details can be viewed at www.DiscountAEDPads.com.

The Philips Onsite Defibrillator employs the proven Philips technologies to ensure for heart rhythm assessment (SMART Analysis) and defibrillation energy delivery (SMART Biphasic). Its usage can cover the adults as well as children.

The product is extremely user friendly. The blinking green ‘Ready’ light confirms that eth Onsite has passed its self test and is ready for use. If the defibrillator requires attention, the ‘Ready’ light gets switched off and it ‘chirps’ to issue alert.

The Philips OnSite Home Defibrillator is used to treat SCA victims who fail to breathe properly and are non-responsive. One must remember here that the HeartStart cannot be used by the victim himself. There must be security personnel to offer the treatment. The treatment ought to be supplemented by the CPR. And the most important point, a defibrillator must not be apprehended as a replacement for medical care.