title: Treating sudden cardiac arrest in a school setting.
abstract: Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart's electrical system fires very rapidly and in an uncoordinated manner, rendering the heart incapable of pumping blood through the circulatory system. The heart begins to tremble uncontrollably, like a quivering bowl of jelly. The victim becomes unconscious, stops breathing, and typically has no pulse or signs of circulation. Unless this condition is reversed, death follows in a matter of minutes. Defibrillation ("shocking a patient") is the only effective means of re-setting the heart's normal electrical impulses.
authors.affiliation: New Bedford Public School System, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avelar
mesh_terms: D047548:Defibrillators; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration