The American Heart Association and the EMS community are vital partners in emergency cardiovascular care management. Both work to save lives. The AHA is committed to providing state-of-the-art training in Advanced, Basic and Pediatric Life Support to healthcare professionals. AHA works closely with a variety of national organizations that include ACEP, NAEMSP, NREMT, NASEMSD, NAEMSE and EMSC in developing education and training programs and materials for the EMS community.
As healthcare professionals we are all committed to the “chain of survival”. The concept was first introduced in the American Heart Association’s Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care published in 1992. The chain of survival is a metaphor that illustrates a series of related interventions that will improve the outcomes of victims of cardiac and respiratory emergencies. Each link in the chain identifies an early intervention: early access (call 9-1-1), early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced life support. Each early intervention requires the training of persons ranging from the lay rescuer, to the first responder, to EMTs, to the emergency room physician. This training is delivered through the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) training network.
Reviewed/Updated 05/20/2008
