Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
LESSON 2: HEART ATTACK AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
2-2
2-2. CAUSES OF CARDIAC ARREST
The primary cause of sudden death (cardiac arrest) is myocardial infarction (heart attack). Other causes of cardiac arrest include:
a. Drowning.
b. Electrical shock.
c. Poisoning
d. Suffocation.
e. Smoke inhalation.
f. Choking on food or other objects.
g. Anaphylactic shock (shock caused by hypersensitivity [severe allergic reaction] to a substance such as the venom from a bee sting).
h. Trauma (major injury).
i. Medical reasons (terminal illness, septic shock, sudden infant death syndrome, and so forth).
j. Hypovolemic shock (shock caused by severe blood loss).
k. Drug reaction.
