Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a critical public health concern, occurring when the heart suddenly stops beating outside of a hospital setting. Immediate intervention, including bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, is essential to improve survival rates.
Statistics in Mississippi:
- Mississippi has a bystander CPR rate of 42.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 40.8%.
- Nationally, over 350,000 OHCAs occur annually, with survival to hospital discharge averaging less than 10%.
Mississippi Healthcare Alliance (MHCA) Initiatives:
The Mississippi Healthcare Alliance is actively working to improve OHCA outcomes through several initiatives:
- CARES Registry Participation: MHCA funds the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) in Mississippi, facilitating data collection and analysis to improve emergency response strategies.
- Community CPR Training: MHCA collaborates with schools and community organizations to provide CPR training, aiming to increase bystander intervention rates.
Patient Resources and Education:
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
Resources: Survivor stories, educational content, support networks, advocacy, and resources for families.Link: www.sca-aware.org
- American Heart Association (AHA) – Cardiac Arrest
Resources: Information on the chain of survival, CPR, AED use, recovery, and support for survivors and caregivers.Link: www.heart.org/cardiacarrest
- Parent Heart Watch
Resources: Focuses on protecting youth from sudden cardiac arrest; offers family education, screening info, and memorials for young victims.Link: www.parentheartwatch.org
- Call Push Shock
Resources: National awareness campaign to educate the public about recognizing cardiac arrest and taking action with CPR and AEDs.Link: www.callpushshock.org
- Citizen CPR Foundation
Resources: Educational tools to promote community response to sudden cardiac arrest, CPR/AED awareness, and survivor stories.Link: www.citizencpr.org
- HeartRescue Project – Survivor Resources
Resources: Offers tools for survivor recovery, coping strategies for families, and best practices for emergency response systems.Link: www.heartrescueproject.com
- PulsePoint Foundation
Resources: Mobile app and tools for alerting nearby responders to cardiac arrests; also educates the public on early intervention.Link: www.pulsepoint.org