Sudden cardiac arrest claims one life every 90 seconds and is the number one medical cause of death in young athletes. However, survival rates can double or triple with quick action, including immediate CPR and/or use of an AED if one is available.

“What we saw on Monday Night Football emphasizes the fact that a cardiac arrest can occur anytime to anyone,” said ACC Chief Medical Officer Richard J. Kovacs, MD, MACC. “The ACC/AHA recommendations for competitive athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities outline the key components of emergency action plans. The NFL has emergency action plans, and last night we saw them in action. We saw prompt recognition of a cardiac arrest, CPR and an AED quickly available. While we don’t know the outcome yet, we all pray and hope for Damar’s recovery. And we should go back to our schools, clubs and gyms to make sure we all have emergency plans.”

The ACC has several clinician and patient tools to help raise awareness of sudden cardiac death and provide recommendations for management and treatment:

• Access the 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death, which includes a specific section (10.1) on athletes
• Download ACC’s CardioSmart infographic on sudden cardiac arrest, which can be used in exam rooms, local community centers, schools, etc. A second infographic offers signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes
• Support awareness that heart attacks have beginnings with EHAC resources and education materials
• Read an ACC.org Expert Analysis article outlining the “How To of Emergency Action Planning”
• Join ACC’s Sport and Exercise Cardiology Section

Save the date for ACC’s annual Care of the Athletic Heart meeting taking place June 8-10 in Washington, DC, and virtually

Clinical Topics: Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Cardiovascular Care Team, Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease, Prevention, Sports and Exercise Cardiology, Implantable Devices, SCD/Ventricular Arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Exercise

Keywords: Cardiology, Exercise, Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Schools, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athletes, Heart Arrest, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, Data Visualization, Survival Rate, Football

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