Squad Goals: Moving the Needle on Sudden Cardiac Arrest Requires a New Model

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the third-leading cause of death in the US and, for many reasons, one of the most challenging public health issues for our nation. According to a recent National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine study, upwards of 395,000 people experience SCA outside of hospitals each year in the US, equivalent to the population of New Orleans. But nationally, despite decades of awareness initiatives, preventative programs, and treatment innovations, less than 6% of these people survive, a frightening number that hasn't changed in 30 years. That's why it's time for an "SCA response squad" model. Clearly defining the requirements of an out-of-hospital SCA response system is the first step toward meaningfully improving SCA survival rates. The focus here is on workplace and community settings rather than the home or hospital.