Cardiac arrest has been front and center this last month with the medical emergencies for two high-profile individuals – Damar Hamlin and Lisa Marie Presley.  

Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, died at 54 after going into cardiac arrest and being rushed to a hospital.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, went into cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field on January 2 during a game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. Players, spectators, and a national television audience watching the playoff game were horrified to see a young professional athlete fighting for his life on the field of play in real-time. Few people have ever witnessed someone go into cardiac arrest - or a medical team making a picture-perfect lifesaving response. 

We all typically think of heart problems being associated with older individuals who may not be in the best physical health and may experience a heart attack. We wouldn’t envision a young athlete succumbing to a cardiovascular incident seemingly out of the blue. So what exactly is the difference between cardiac arrest versus a heart attack?  Let’s break it down.

What is a Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is when a heart unexpectedly stops beating because of rapid, abnormal impulses that override the heart’s natural rhythm. The result is a lack of blood supply to any organs, the patient stops breathing, and everything stops. When there is a lack of blood circulation to the body’s organs, cells in the organs begin to die. It is often referred to as an “electrical” problem.   

Symptoms of cardiac arrest—which may start without warning—include fainting, racing heartbeat, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Those most likely to be affected by cardiac arrest are adults, with more than 356,000 Americans experiencing it outside of a hospital each year. Unfortunately, about 89% of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will die.

Cardiac arrest is very different from the more common heart attack.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack, which doctors call myocardial infarction, is when the heart cannot circulate blood, typically due to a blockage. It is a circulation, or “plumbing,” problem usually caused by a blockage to an artery that reaches the heart, disrupting circulation and causing the muscle, or part of it, to die.  A buildup of plaque in the arteries mainly causes blockages causing heart attacks. Plaque forms when cholesterol combines with fat, calcium, and other substances in the blood. Combined, these elements harden into plaque, which can then rupture, causing a blood clot. Large clots can completely block the flow of blood through an artery. The damage is much more localized, and people usually feel symptoms.

Common warning signs of a heart attack are discomfort or pain in the chest; discomfort in other upper body areas, including pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach; and shortness of breath. Other possible signs include cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.  Symptoms usually start slowly and persist for hours, days, or weeks, though they can also be immediate.

People at risk for heart attacks have a family history of heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, and cigarette smoking. About 635,000 Americans have new heart attacks each year. Almost half of them will have a second one. The risk of heart attack is great for those over 45. Heart attacks can be fatal but do not automatically lead to death. Immediate emergency medical help can often prevent a serious outcome. About 1 in 7 Americans die of coronary heart disease, which includes heart attacks. Overall, heart attacks are more common than cardiac arrest in the United States, and a heart attack can cause cardiac arrest. 

Young athletes almost never have a heart attack because their arteries aren't compromised by diabetes or high blood pressure. You can have perfect plumbing in your home but still, have an electrical problem. A young athlete might have perfect plumbing around his heart but still, develop or have an electrical problem.  Though it’s important to note that cardiac arrest in young athletes is rare - a 2018 study found just under seven deaths per 100,000 teen athletes a year - less than half a percent.

We can all be trained to take action when every second counts

In the case of Damar Hamlin and his cardiac arrest on the playing field, the doctors say the immediate CPR restored his heartbeat, while the AED restored the rhythm, enabling his amazing recovery. Damar Hamlin is just one of the many individuals who are living proof of why everyone should know CPR. You don't have to be an expert. You just have to be available and willing. 

Being CPR trained means you know how to quickly and properly administer CPR. This can mean life or death for someone in medical distress. Those responsible for children, the elderly, or anyone not fully capable of taking care of themselves should consider CPR training and anyone in a position that requires them to be around the water, live electrical lines, or do other dangerous activities regularly.

CPR is quick and easy to learn. It can be easily mastered with sufficient hands-on training and practice. CPR courses can take anywhere from 2-4 hours long in duration. The steps are fairly simple, and in a hands-on skills training class, you'll use a CPR training mannequin to learn exactly where and how hard you need to press to provide effective chest compressions. For those who are reluctant to learn CPR for fear of "doing it wrong" or causing physical harm to the victim, remember that CPR is designed for someone who isn't breathing and doesn't have a heartbeat. They are clinically dead, and you cannot make their condition worse. As a bystander, the only wrong thing you could do is nothing at all. We strongly doubt anything you can learn in about 2-4 hours is as effective as this.

At ACLS Academy, we have three different variations of Heartsaver CPR courses: 

1. HEARTSAVER CPR/AED/FIRST AID

2. HEARTSAVER CPR/AED, OR

3. PEDIATRIC CPR/AED/FIRST AID

American Heart Association Heartsaver courses are designed to prepare non-healthcare providers for the ability to effectively administer CPR, including the use of AEDs for adult, child, and/ or infant responses. These courses are typically required for lifeguards, physical trainers, restaurant workers, coaches, and similar groups. In addition to CPR & AED use, the Heartsaver course offers an additional, supplemental First Aid training component which can be done as a stand-alone course or as an add-on to the CPR & AED training.

Our Heartsaver course covers the following:

• Responding to and managing illnesses and injuries in adults, children, and infants.

• First aid basics for common first aid emergencies.

• How to perform lifesaving skills. 

• How to recognize cardiac arrest and what to do until EMS arrives.

Our Heartsaver Blended Learning courses include an online portion and a hands-on skills session. The online portion provides the flexibility of completing training at your own pace, either at work, home, or wherever you have Internet access. The hands-on portion includes a skills practice and testing session conducted in person with an AHA Instructor. The skills session can take approximately 1-2 hours. 

Sign up here for ACLS Academy's Heartsaver courses, or contact us for questions or additional information.