Cardiac arrests that occur outside of hospital are twice as common as previously estimated, a new report reveals. There are approximately 60,000 per year in the country, or one every nine minutes.
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“It’s huge,” says Sophie Labelle, manager at Cœur + Stroke, whose organization signed the report. Especially since only one in 10 people survive. A low survival rate that the organization wants to see double in the coming years.
Twice more
The annual incidence of 60,000 cardiac arrests is almost twice as high as previous estimates, she warns. The new data, which comes from the Canadian Resuscitation Research Consortium, shows the impact of the aging population, the opioid crisis which is shaking the country, but also the prevalence of diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, between others.
“You have to be able to recognize a cardiac arrest,” says M.me The beautiful. Call 911 and immediately begin compressions to the center of the chest.”
- Jessica Giroux gave her father CPR thanks to the song “Stayin’ Alive”. Listen to his interview followed by Claude Lefebvre, Red Cross first aid instructor, and respiratory therapist on the microphone of Yasmine Abdelfadel via QUB :
Moreover, Quebecers would benefit from being trained in greater numbers to practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which maintains blood circulation to preserve the function of the brain and other vital organs, argues doctor Anne-Frédérique Dupriez.
“If we do nothing, within 5 minutes, there is a risk of brain damage which may be irreversible. Every minute that passes, we have less chance of bringing the person back,” underlines the emergency doctor from the Montreal Heart Institute.
According to Heart & Stroke, the rate of CPR performed by bystanders varies from 42 to 72% across the country.
But the statistics leave even more to be desired when it comes to the automated external defibrillator (AED), which shocks the heart to make it start beating again. Only 13% of witnesses in a public place will use it.
“There is no chance of harm [en utilisant le DEA]ensures the DD Dupriez. We must not be afraid to start maneuvers.”
6865 defibrillators
In Quebec, the Jacques-De Champlain Foundation launched the mobile application to identify AEDs available in the province.
For the moment, 6,865 devices have been counted in DEA-Québec, specifies Eddy Afram.
YVES CHARLEBOIS/AGENCE QMI
However, the latter deplores that no law forces businesses and public places to make an AED available. They are also only registered on a voluntary basis.
“The last link is missing,” he argues, recalling that Quebec has a very large territory with variable response times for ambulances.