For each minute a victim of sudden cardiac arrest goes without help, the survival rate drops by roughly what percent?

For each minute a victim of sudden cardiac arrest goes without help, the survival rate drops by roughly what percent?

• A. 25
• B. 1
• C. 10
• D. 50

Answer: (C)

When sudden cardiac arrest happens, every minute without intervention dramatically lowers the chance of survival. The key idea is that time matters: without CPR and defibrillation, the heart isn’t circulating blood, and oxygen delivery to the brain and organs falls quickly. The common rule taught in CPR training is that survival decreases by about 10 percent with every minute that passes without help. That’s why rapid action—start CPR to keep blood flowing and apply defibrillation as soon as a shockable rhythm is identified—has the biggest impact on outcomes. The other numbers don’t fit the established guideline for how quickly survival declines, so the option reflecting roughly 10 percent per minute is the best fit.

When sudden cardiac arrest happens, every minute without intervention dramatically lowers the chance of survival. The key idea is that time matters: without CPR and defibrillation, the heart isn’t circulating blood, and oxygen delivery to the brain and organs falls quickly. The common rule taught in CPR training is that survival decreases by about 10 percent with every minute that passes without help. That’s why rapid action—start CPR to keep blood flowing and apply defibrillation as soon as a shockable rhythm is identified—has the biggest impact on outcomes. The other numbers don’t fit the established guideline for how quickly survival declines, so the option reflecting roughly 10 percent per minute is the best fit.