Can Sudden Cardiac Death Be Treated? Yes, SCD can be treated and reversed, but emergency action must take place immediately. Survival can be as high as 90% if treatment is initiated within the first minutes after SCD. The rate decreases by about 10% each minute longer it takes to initiate therapy. Those who survive do well in the long-term.

What Do I Do if I Witness Sudden Cardiac Death?

If you witness someone experiencing sudden cardiac death, dial 911 or your local emergency personnel immediately and initiate CPR . If done properly, CPR can save a person's life, as the procedure keeps blood and oxygen circulating through the body until help arrives.

If there is an AED available, the best chance of rescuing the person includes defibrillation with that device. The shorter the time until defibrillation, the greater the chance the person will survive. It is CPR plus defibrillation that saves a person.

After successful defibrillation, most people require hospital care to treat and prevent future cardiac problems.