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HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION RESEARCH: SAVING LIVES — CARDIAC EMERGENCY
IMPROVING THE ODDS FOR CARDIAC ARREST
A massive Canada-U.S. resuscitation study is laying the
groundwork for improved cardiac arrest survival rates.
Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher Dr. Laurie Morrison
Cardiac arrest can occur at any age,
at any time, without warning. It can be
triggered by a traumatic injury, such
as a car accident or drowning; or can
result from a heart attack brought on
by a blockage in a coronary artery.
largest clinical research initiative of its
kind in the world.
studies have already seen incredible
improvements in survival rates.
Out of the estimated 40,000 cardiac
arrests that occur in Canada each year,
most (85 per cent) strike suddenly
and unexpectedly in places outside of
hospital, like your home, the office or in
a public setting.
It is testing promising new resuscitation
drugs, tools and interventions to give
survivors of cardiac arrest or trauma a
better chance of survival.
Trials taking place in Ottawa, Vancouver
and Toronto include extensive data
collection and interventions performed
by participating local Emergency
Medical Services (EMS). ROC studies
compare treatment options so that
EMS providers can identify the best
early interventions to improve patient
survival.
“Since our clinical trials began in 2006,
the survival rates of out-of-hospital
cardiac arrests in our Toronto and
adjacent regions have increased fivefold,” says Dr. Morrison.
Currently, the chance of surviving an
out of hospital cardiac arrest in Canada
is a dismal five per cent. Without rapid
and appropriate treatment within
minutes, most victims will die before
reaching the hospital.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation
co-funds the Resuscitation Outcomes
Consortium (ROC), a $50-million
Canada-U.S. research collaboration, the
Dr. Laurie Morrison leads the Toronto
ROC Coordinating Centre called Rescu,
which is currently enrolling patients
in two studies designed to test new
CPR techniques and the use of drugs
to treat ventricular fibrillation (chaotic
heart beat). She notes the ROC
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“By improving the quality of CPR and
EMS techniques and response times,
survival rates may surpass the current
rate of 11 per cent. If this five-fold
increase in survival was translated into
every community in Canada this would
save an additional 4,800 Canadian lives
a year.”
ROC research is providing the largescale proof necessary to support
widespread adoption and delivery of
new and improved medical protocols
to empower bystanders, hospital staff,
paramedics and other frontline workers
to save more lives.
HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION RESEARCH: SAVING LIVES — CARDIAC EMERGENCY
SEVEN TIMES UNLUCKY BUT SURVIVING
Kevin believes the AED saved his life,
along with the bystanders who were
trained and ready to keep cardiac
arrest from taking another life.
Kevin Vinding, Dustin Vinding (son), Coral and Crystal Vinding (daughters)
Kevin Vinding experienced seven
to be watching the game and a
Thankfully, Kevin suffered no brain
cardiac arrests in one night and lived.
teammate who was a firefighter rushed
damage, which he credits to measures
He credits the right people and the
to Kevin’s side and began performing
taken by EMS and hospital staff.
CPR and shocked his heart back to life
He now has two stents in his left
right life-saving device being on hand
to bring him back to life during a
with an AED.
hockey game at the Jemini Arena in
Luckily, an ambulance just happened to
lifestyle changes including quitting
Saskatoon.
be driving down a street near the arena
smoking, eating healthier and going to
Just a few minutes into the third-period
at the time the 9-1-1 call was made and
the gym regularly.
of the game, Kevin went into cardiac
arrived within minutes.
Kevin believes the AED saved his life.
arrest and collapsed to the ice.
Kevin, who was 44 at the time, later
Just as important, there were people
Thankfully, there were people trained
found out that only three per cent of
nearby who were trained and ready
in life saving CPR and use of an
people survive what he did.
to stop cardiac arrest from taking its
automated external defibrillator (AED)
His wife was told he might not make it
at the rink that night.
A coronary care nurse, who happened
through the night and if he did, it was
likely he would have brain damage.
Thanks to your support, research is creating survivors by enabling faster,
better cardiac emergency response and treatment.
Help create more survivors. #CreateSurvivors
coronary artery and has made major
next life.