High-Rise Living Lowers Rate of Surviving Cardiac Arrest

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People who suffered cardiac arrest who live in high-rise buildings are less likely to survive according to a new study. As the floor number increases, the chances of survival decrease.

Lead author Ian Drennan, a paramedic with York Region Paramedic Services and a researcher with Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto says, "We thought there might be something here because once somebody collapses into cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases really quickly," reports Reuters.

The reason behind is quite simple; it takes responders time to get to the patients who live in higher floors thus delaying treatment.

"If you find them in a shockable heart rhythm then most of the time you can reset the heart and get a pulse back. If you wait too long, the chance of finding that rhythm deteriorates," he added, the news site reports.

Patients have better chances of surviving the sooner they can be defibrillated as supported by a report from Health Day News. Defibrillating is the shocking of the heart to a normal rhythm. The longer it takes for the patient to undergo treatment, the less likely the treatment will revive the patient.

In fact, the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest decrease dramatically above the third floor, reports Reuters. More so, if you live above the 16th floor, survival is already inconsequential according to the researchers.

To arrive with these conclusions, the researchers analyzed cases of 7,842 people who suffered cardiac arrest living in private residences and treated by first responders from 2007 to 2012 in Toronto. They found that less than four percent were able to survive and ultimately get discharged from the hospital.

Only 4.2 percent survived from the almost 6,000 patients who lived below the third floor. Meanwhile, only 2.6 percent of those who lived above the third floor survived. More so, less than one percent survived above the 16th floor survived. Of the remaining 30 who lived above the 25th floor, none of them survived.

Drennan added that the finding is not unique to Canada alone. "Anywhere there are high-rise buildings, there are always going to be delays getting to higher floors. The quicker you can get to people the better," he said as reported by Health Day News.

Helping first responders get to the patients faster may increase their chances of survival. He suggests making plans in cases of emergency for faster access to elevators and entryways. More so, he also suggests that employees of the buildings should be trained in CPR and in using AEDs. It is recommended to have these devices in the lobby, on certain floors and even on elevators reports Reuters.

Ultimately, the best thing to do in a cardiac arrest is to call 911 right away, follow CPR guidelines and get an AED.