Chain of Survival

The best way to increase the chance of saving sudden cardiac arrest victims is to remember and follow every link in the chain of survival:

1. Early Access to the emergency response system;
2. Early CPR to support circulation to the heart and brain until normal heart activity is restored;
3. Early Defibrillation to treat cardiac arrest caused by Ventricular Fibrillation; and
4. Early Advanced Care by EMS and hospital personnel

The first link, Early Access to the emergency response system, includes early recognition of the cardiac emergency and early notification of internal rescue staff and early notification of external rescue personnel (000).

The second link, Early CPR, is a set of actions that the rescuer performs in sequence to assess and support airway, breathing and circulation.

The third link, Early Defibrillation, is the delivery of a shock to the heart to convert the heart's rhythm from Ventricular Fibrillation back to a normal heart rhythm.

The fourth link, Early Advanced Care, relates to the response of highly trained and equipped pre-hospital EMS personnel (paramedics) who can respond to the patient and provide for the administration of drugs, advanced airway procedures, and other interventions and protocols, prior to the arrival of the patient at an advanced care facility.