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Design and Implementation of an Emergency Action Plan for Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Sport

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Abstract

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of exercise-related fatalities in athletes. A comprehensive emergency action plan (EAP) is critical to facilitate a rapid and effective response to a cardiac emergency. SCA should be suspected in any athlete that collapses suddenly and is unresponsive. All potential responders to a collapsed athlete should be trained in the recognition of SCA, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). AEDs should be accessible on-site at sporting venues with a target collapse to first shock interval of less than 3 min. Every school, club, and sporting organization that sponsors athletic activities should have a written EAP for SCA. An EAP coordinator should be designated to foster compliance with training, practice, and rehearsal of the EAP at least once annually. Some sports require special considerations for equipment removal or access to emergency services in geographically broad or water-based venues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington Stadium Sports Medicine Center, 3800 Montlake Blvd NE, 98195, Seattle, WA, USA

    Henry F. Pelto & Jonathan A. Drezner

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  1. Henry F. Pelto
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  2. Jonathan A. Drezner
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Correspondence to Henry F. Pelto.

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Henry F Pelto declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Jonathan A Drezner declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Associate Editor Domingo A. Pascual-Figal oversaw the review of this article

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Pelto, H.F., Drezner, J.A. Design and Implementation of an Emergency Action Plan for Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Sport. J. of Cardiovasc. Trans. Res. 13, 331–338 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-020-09988-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-020-09988-1

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