Call-Push-Shock, a social media campaign and initiative by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation and the Parent Health Watch is designed to encourage bystander action in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, is becoming a national public health movement. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a national public health crisis. About 1,000 people suffer SCA outside hospital settings every day in the U.S. On average, only in one in 10 victims survives. Those who survive invariably received immediate CPR and quick treatment with a defibrillator. The purpose of the campaign is to motivate bystanders to call 911, give CPR, and use AEDs (automated external defibrillators) to help save lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest.
Can I be sued using the defibrillator?
To date, there has never been a case where someone was held liable for using an AED. However, there have been lawsuits for not having an AED regarding the “standard of care.” Most states have passed “Good Samaritan” legislation protecting the lay rescuer from lawsuits. Click here to see your State Good Samaritan laws.
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It strikes people of all ages who may seem to be healthy, even children and teens.
When SCA happens, the person collapses and doesn’t respond or breathe normally. They may gasp or shake as if having a seizure.
SCA leads to death in minutes if the person does not get help right away. Survival depends on people nearby calling 911, starting CPR¹, and using an AED² (if available) as soon as possible.
¹ CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is when you push hard and fast on the center of chest to make the heart pump; compressions may be given with or without rescue breaths.
² AED: Automated external defibrillator is a device that analyzes the heart and if it detects a problem may deliver a shock to restart the heart’s normal rhythm.
