Optimizing Community Resources to Address Sudden Cardiac Death

The "chain of survival" (early access, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early defibrillation, and early advanced care) defines the proven interventions necessary for successful resuscitation and survival of patients with cardiac arrest. Low survival rates from cardiac arrest are not due to lack of understanding of effective interventions, but instead are due to weak links in the chain of survival and the inability of communities to make sure these links function in an efficient, timely, and coordinated fashion. This article reviews how quality is defined for each link, how communities can strengthen each link, and how communities can forge a strong relationship between each link. By optimizing local leadership and stakeholder collaboration, communities have the potential to vastly improve outcomes from this devastating disease.