OPINION — Each year, thousands of Arizonans experience sudden cardiac arrest, with the vast majority happening outside of a hospital setting.
When the heart stops, blood flow to the brain is cut off, and every minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival.
Too often, the outcome depends on whether a bystander knows CPR and whether an automated external defibrillator is nearby. An AED is a portable, life-saving medical device used to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It automatically analyzes the heart's rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to help restore a normal heartbeat when necessary.
