Final answer:
Sudden cardiac arrest is an emergency where the heart stops pumping blood, requiring immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR involves chest compressions to maintain blood flow, particularly to the brain, to prevent damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sudden cardiac arrest is a critical condition where the heart ceases to pump blood, leading to the potential failure of vital organs. It is imperative to respond immediately in such cases. For athletes or anyone unresponsive and collapsed, it should be presumed they could be experiencing a cardiac arrest until proven otherwise. An essential life-saving measure during a cardiac arrest is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The technique involves applying pressure to the sternum at the T4 to T9 region to promote blood flow to vital organs, especially the brain, to prevent irreversible neuronal damage.
The current standard for performing CPR involves chest compressions that are at least 5 cm deep at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Persistent myths suggest that once a person is unconscious, especially in water, they are beyond saving. However, if the airway is protected by a muscular spasm of the larynx, the chances of recovery with immediate CPR are significant, even after extended periods in cold water.