Welcome healthcare public relations professionals to the online resource kit for Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, recognized in the United States annually every October. Materials on this page have been provided as a courtesy by the Medtronic public relations team for your use in developing materials for media or supporting their requests for information.

Please note: Medtronic is required by regulatory authorities to provide complete, balanced information about the benefits and risks of our products, which is included in the documents provided on this website. We request that you include this information as well when communicating with your audiences about Medtronic products.

This webpage is provided for use by public relations professionals at hospitals. It is not for media use.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an electrical problem with the heart that triggers a dangerously fast heart rate (ventricular tachycardia) or irregular rhythm (ventricular fibrillation). If not treated immediately, SCA can be fatal. Approximately 95% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest event and are not treated by defibrillation within 10 minutes will die.1

Approximately 475,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year.1

Template materials and fact sheets

Images

Additional visual and educational assets

Therapy awareness program materials

Therapy awareness programs are designed to provide greater patient access by partnering with experienced clinicians to:

  • Educate the wider healthcare provider community about what types of patients can benefit from new innovative products or therapies
  • Educate patients and families or caregivers about new products or therapies
View program materials (open in new window)

Contact

For additional information or media support, contact Tracy McNulty.

Phone: 763-526-2492

Email Tracy

Fair balance for ICD systems, including leads and programmer

Additional device information

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) system delivers therapies to treat patients with heart rhythm disorders or who are at significant risk of developing heart rhythm disorders. An ICD is placed inside your body and works automatically.   

Risks associated with an ICD system implant include, but are not limited to, infection at the surgical site and/or sensitivity to the device material, failure to deliver therapy when it is needed, or receiving extra therapy when it is not needed. After receiving an ICD system, you will have limitations with magnetic and electromagnetic radiation, electric or gas powered appliances and tools in which you are allowed to be in contact.  

Treatment with an ICD system is prescribed by your physician. This treatment is not for everyone. Please talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you. Your physician should discuss all potential benefits and risks with you. Although many patients benefit from the use of this treatment, results may vary. For further information, please call the Medtronic toll-free number at 1-800-551-5544, x41835 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, Central Time).