Definitions for "Chain of Survival"
The chain of action that the American Heart Association-recommends be followed in treating a person who suffers sudden cardiac arrest to increase the chances of survival. The system includes four steps or links: early access to an emergency medical system (calling 911), early CPR, early defibrillation with an AED, and early advanced cardiac life support. Any break in this chain can compromise survival. For a more complete description of the Cardiac Chain of Survival, click here.
(Cardiac Chain of Survival) A protocol advocated by the American Heart Association. This "chain" demonstrates the immediate care needed for a cardiac arrest victim in order to achieve the best outcomes for survival. The chain goes in this order: Early access (Victim is found and 999 is called) Early CPR (To maintain oxygen flow to the brain and other vital organs) Early defibrillation (To reverse ventricular fibrillation, which is present in 80-90% of all cardiac arrests) Early Advanced Life Support. In theory, if all parts of the chain occur within 1 minute of each other (except for the Advanced Life Support part) , the chances of survival are about 50%. This is an incredible statistic, especially if one considers that if CPR is delayed and no defibrillator is brought, the victim has a 0-2% chance of survival.
This "chain" demonstrates the immediate care needed for a cardiac arrest victim in order to achieve the best outcomes for survival, recommended by the American Heart Association. The four-step process includes early access, CPR, defibrillation and advanced care.