WHAT The Institute of Medicine Committee on the Treatment of Cardiac Arrest is announcing results of a new report that examines current statistics and survival rates of cardiac arrest in the United States, assesses evidence on existing lifesaving therapies, and recommends public health strategies that – if implemented – will improve cardiac arrest survival rates. Additionally, the report explores cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), and EMS and hospital resuscitation systems of care.
WHY Each year, approximately 300,000 persons in the U.S. experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and approximately 92 percent of them die, according to an analysis of the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES). This report, supported by the American Red Cross, examines how to improve survival and quality of life following cardiac arrest. The American Red Cross trains more than two million people annually in First Aid, CPR and AED use.
WHEN If you plan to cover the public briefing announcing the report, Red Cross experts are available to discuss the findings and recommendations afterward.
The public conference begins at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 30, in Room 125 of the National Academy of Sciences building, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington D.C. Those who cannot attend may view and ask questions via a live video webcast of the event here.
WHO David Markenson, MD, Sky Ridge Medical Center, Denver, CO
Dr. Markenson is a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee on the Treatment of Cardiac Arrest. He serves as the Chair of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, which guides the Red Cross on the science behind its training programs.
Richard Bradley, MD, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
Dr. Bradley is Chair of the Resuscitation Subcouncil of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and advises the Red Cross on its CPR/AED training programs.
Jonathan Epstein, MEMS, NREMT-P, American Red Cross, Washington, DC
Mr. Epstein, a paramedic and CPR instructor trainer, is senior director of science and content development at the American Red Cross.
Public defibrillators rarely used during cardiac arrest incidents, research shows