"Sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA, the leading cause of death in young athletes, occurs after the heart abruptly and unexpectedly stops functioning causing the athlete to collapse. It often occurs in apparently healthy persons, although most victims have underlying heart problems of which they are unaware. "

"The new guidelines emphasize that prompt recognition of SCA, early activation of local emergency medical services, the presence of an individual trained in CPR, access to an automated external defibrillator are essential to ensuring that athletes receive immediate treatment in the critical few minutes after collapsing. "

"Automated external defibrillators are portable, consumer-friendly versions of the devices doctors use in the hospital to "jump-start" hearts that have stopped beating. It's estimated that the vast majority of victims of SCA die before they reach the hospital. "

"The ability to recognize SCA is important not only for athletic trainers, but also coaches, teachers and other lay persons, and "is the first critical step to potentially saving the athlete's life," Dr. Jonathan Drezner said in a statement. "

""SCA can be mistaken for other causes of collapse, so responders should assume it's SCA until proven otherwise," said Drezner, associate director of Hall Health Sports Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle."

"Drezner chaired the task force that developed the guidelines. The task force included representatives from 15 national organizations with special interest in SCA and was sponsored by the National Athletic Trainers' Association."

"Often,
... read the whole article