Welcome back to Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey, your home for Red Cross trivia tidbits. Last week we took a look at Red Cross celebrity supporter, John Mayer, and his numerous contributions to our Haiti Relief efforts. This week we’ll switch up from the disaster side of things and stroll over to health and safety. I am your host Lindsey, and here is your question for the day.

Yesterday I caught a story from The Post Dispatch regarding two Poplar Bluff, MO brothers and an ironic coincidence.

The Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic reported that on March 3, Crocket, a 53-year-old disabled truck driver from Poplar Bluff, was not feeling well and went to the doctor but became impatient and left before being treated. He called his brother and told him he didn't feel well. Minutes after Ronnie arrived at Crocket's home, Crocket's heart stopped beating. Ronnie and Crocket's wife began CPR and called 911. Ronnie's chest began hurting so when police officer Jerry Cates arrived, he took over CPR. Emergency crews showed up and got Crocket's heartbeat back. Minutes after the family arrived at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, even as Crocket was being treated, Ronnie suffered a heart attack.

Now the chance of two brothers suffering sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) simultaneously is admittedly rare, however, the odds aren’t against them. Luckily, in this situation, both men survived because they received immediate medical attention. But according to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association 95 percent of those affected by SCA aren’t as lucky. How many people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest?

Big thanks to Pam and Mary for your correct answers! “Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the U.S., killing nearly 300,000 people each year. That’s more than the total death rate for breast cancer, lung cancer, and HIV/AIDS combined” (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association). If you do the math, that’s one person almost EVERY two minutes who loses their life to SCA.

But up to 50,000 of these deaths can be prevented if someone on scene initiates the Cardiac Chain of Survival and has access to an automated external defibrillator (AED). Automated external defibrillators are a crucial component in the cardiac chain of survival- Early Access to Emergency Care/911, Early CPR, Early Defibrillation, and Early arrival of Advanced Care; the stronger the chain, the stronger chance of survival. That’s why The American Red Cross has a vision of one person in every household being trained in First Aid and CPR lifesaving skills, and all Americans being within four minutes of an AED with someone trained to use it in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

For more information on Sudden Cardiac Arrest and AEDs, or to sign up for a class, check out these available resources:

►AED Frequently Asked Questions
►Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Educational Materials
►Take a Class

Also, to find out about the newly established Gateway Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Survivor’s Group, contact Dana Garner at dgarner@redcrossstl.org or by phone at 314-516-2730.

As always, thanks for playing along! Don't forget to join me next week for the last Red Cross Month edition of Tuesday Trivia with Lindsey!

Lindsey

Lindsey Weber is the Marketing and Communication Associate for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.