1. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death globally.
2. SCA victims usually collapse suddenly, without warning, and become unconscious. SCA leads to death if it is not treated immediately. SCA is not the same as a heart attack. Heart attack victims usually experience chest pain and are conscious.
3. SCA risk factors include a family history of heart disease (heart attack and/or cardiac death), unexplained fainting (syncope), heart failure, a cardiac ejection fraction of less than 40%, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and  high cholesterol.
4. On average, only 6% of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive. But, in some settings, survival rates of 20 percent have been achieved. If the chain of survival were properly implemented
5. The rationale for widespread deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is this: electrical therapy must be delivered immediately (ideally within five minutes of collapse) for it to be effective. Even the best emergency medical services (EMS) systems do not usually get to the scene this quickly.
6. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs most often in the home.
7. Victims of sudden cardiac arrest who collapse in public places are more likely than those who collapse at home to receive CPR and defibrillation, and to survive.
8. Learning to use an AED is simple and intuitive. Formal training can take place in less than one hour. Untrained laypersons have been able to use AEDs successfully in actual emergencies.
9. The median age for victims of sudden cardiac arrest is 65, but many victims are much younger. Even teens have become victims.
10. Many AEDs cost less then $1,500.

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