October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month
Every October, we shine a light on Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)—a sudden electrical failure of the heart that strikes more than 356,000 people each year in the U.S. Survival depends on what happens in the first few minutes. Without immediate CPR and access to an AED, chances of survival drop by 10% every minute.
That’s why the chain of survival matters: calling 911, starting CPR, using an AED, and getting advanced care from paramedics. And it’s why citizens are such a vital link. In our region, survival rates are two to three times higher than in most U.S. cities because ordinary people step in until help arrives.
To make that response faster, Medic One Foundation funded the launch of PulsePoint, a free app that alerts CPR-trained citizens when someone nearby is in cardiac arrest and shows where the closest AED is located. Since bringing PulsePoint to Seattle in 2016 and expanding to King and Snohomish Counties in 2021, thousands of residents have signed on to be that critical first responder.
This October, we invite you to strengthen the chain of survival by learning CPR, downloading PulsePoint, and knowing where AEDs are in your community. Because when sudden cardiac arrest happens, a neighbor like you may be the one who makes the difference.
Be Ready to Save a Life
- Download the FREE PulsePoint App
- Get alerts when someone nearby needs CPR
- Learn CPR
- Hands-only CPR can double or even triple survival rates
- Know Your AEDs
- Locate the closest AED instantly
- Anyone can use them
Download the PulsePoint app here.
