Chain of survival

The chain of survival is a sequence of coordinated actions intended to improve survival and neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. Its links include recognizing the emergency, starting resuscitation, using defibrillation, and providing advanced and post-arrest care.

Cardiac arrest: A sudden loss of effective heart function that stops blood circulation. It is the emergency the chain is designed to treat.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Cardiac arrest occurring outside a hospital, often before professional responders arrive. Public recognition, dispatcher guidance, CPR, and nearby defibrillators shape this pathway.
American Heart Association: A United States nonprofit organization that funds cardiovascular research and publishes resuscitation guidelines. Its guidance helped establish and revise widely used chain-of-survival models.
Return of spontaneous circulation: The restoration of a sustained, effective heartbeat and circulation after cardiac arrest. It marks an immediate resuscitation success but does not guarantee recovery.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths used to maintain circulation and oxygenation during cardiac arrest. Immediate CPR helps preserve blood flow before defibrillation or advanced care.
In-hospital cardiac arrest: Cardiac arrest occurring within a hospital, where clinical staff and resuscitation equipment are nearby. Hospital teams can detect deterioration and deliver several links rapidly.
Utstein style: A standardized framework for reporting cardiac arrest data and resuscitation outcomes. Common definitions and outcome measures help evaluate how well systems deliver the chain.
Survival to hospital discharge: A cardiac-arrest outcome measure recording whether a person leaves the hospital alive. It captures whether the response and hospital care sustain survival beyond initial resuscitation.
Automated external defibrillator: A portable device that analyzes heart rhythm and can deliver a shock to treat certain cardiac arrests. Rapid defibrillation can restore an effective rhythm in shockable arrests.
Dispatcher-assisted CPR: Telephone guidance that helps a caller recognize cardiac arrest and begin chest compressions before responders arrive. Dispatchers can shorten the delay between an emergency call and bystander CPR.

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