In a sudden cardiac arrest, the events that take place even before responders arrive play an important role in the patient’s outcome. In fact, much of the fate of a cardiac arrest victim is sealed long before EMS gets on the scene. The chance of survival goes down by 10% for every minute that goes by without care, and the key is CPR and early defibrillation. It may surprise you to learn that the the ability to survive a cardiac arrest event in a casino is significantly greater than nearly any other location. First, every square foot of a casino — inside and out — has closed-circuit cameras that are monitored 24 hours a day. So, if a person experiences a medical emergency, it’s likely someone has witnessed it and can dispatch first responders. The probable survival rate for cardiac arrest victims in casinos is about 70% compared to other locations, where it could be as little as 9%.
