Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital each year. Twelve percent of those victims survive. SCA can happen to anyone at anytime.

An automated external defibrillator, or AED is used to give an electrical shock to the heart during a cardiac arrest. SCA can be caused by some of the following conditions: coronary artery disease, heart attack, congenital heart disease, anaphylaxis, choking and drowning.