October Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month: Why it Matters

Every October, we recognize Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month, as a reminder that SCA emergencies can happen to anyone without warning. Knowing what to do in the first minutes of SCA is critical, and with high-quality CPR and AED training, ordinary people can become lifesavers.

The Reality of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

SCA is a major cause of death in the U.S., and it often happens outside the hospital. As reported by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation there are more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year. In other words, SCA affects 1,000 people of all ages each and every day. Tragically, nearly 90% of SCAs are fatal.

When SCA happens, even small delays in emergency response matter. For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation with an AED, a victim’s chance of survival decreases substantially. Bystander CPR can double or triple the odds of survival compared to doing nothing. Yet, despite this well-established fact, only about 40% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR before EMS arrives.

These facts speak to why it’s important to empower more people with high-quality training and the confidence to act.

Why Awareness Month Matters

Awareness is a an important first step in increasing bystander response to SCA. In addition, SCA Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to:

• Educate more people about recognizing sudden cardiac arrest versus a heart attack.
• Motivate communities who can broadly adopt the basics of “Call — Push — Shock”: call 911, provide CPR, and use an AED if available.
• Promote installation and accessibility of AEDs in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

The Chain of Survival: Your Role Counts

To improve SCA outcomes, we talk about the Chain of Survival, a sequence of actions that can dramatically increase survival rates. The first three links in the chain — early recognition, immediate CPR, and defibrillation — are actions that everyday people can take before EMS arrives.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Recognize cardiac arrest & call 911
2. Start CPR immediately
3. Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Perform these steps in rapid succession to increase the chances of survival from SCA.

How CPR Training Can Help

Without trained bystanders, the Chain of Survival breaks. By becoming fully certified in CPR and AED training, you equip yourself with the muscle memory, decision-making skills, and confidence needed to step in when seconds count.

Here’s how full-certification training helps:

• Reduces hesitation — practice helps you to act decisively under pressure.
• Improves technique — hands-on skills practice allows you to refine and improve your CPR technique.
• Strengthens confidence — when you know what to do, you’re more likely to act when needed.
• Supports systematic readiness — certification training for employees bolsters workplace emergency plans.

For those who feel inspired to teach CPR, the HSI Instructor Development Course (IDC) offers a flexible way to gain instructional certification.

What You Can Do This Month

1. Schedule a CPR and AED training class. Either in-person or virtual, it’s never been easier.
2. Encourage others. Invite co-workers, friends, or family to train alongside you.
3. Help place AEDs. Check your workplace, school, or community to ensure an AED is accessible, visible, and maintained.
4. Spread the message. Use social media, community forums, or your networks to promote SCA awareness and preparedness.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month is more than a marker on the calendar; it’s a call for readiness. Because when SCA strikes, every second matters. When more people know what to do, the more lives we can save.