Cardiac Arrests in BC

BCEHS partners with BC RESURECT to support the BC Cardiac Arrest Registry, providing real-time data on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests to help improve community response and strengthen lifesaving interventions.
​​​​​BC Emergency Health Services is proud to be a member of BC RESURECT: BC Resuscitation Research Collaborative​.

BC RESURECT manages the BC Cardiac Arrest Registry, in partnership with BCEHS, municipal fire departments, and hospitals and health authorities throughout BC. The BC Cardiac Arrest Registry identifies and monitors quality performance metrics for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests throughout BC.

Individual communities can now review real-time information specific to your area. It is designed to provide you with the data you need to plan an effective community response when someone experiences a sudden, unexpected cardiac arrest.

​See how your community is doing:

​ BCRESURECT Data Dashboa​rd​​​


Sudden cardiac arrest: Quick action can be the difference between life and death 

BC paramedics respond to thousands of cardiac arrests every year. These are unexpected and sudden emergency occurrences that leave patients unresponsive, meaning fast action from bystanders is critical in ensuring patients get potentially life-saving help. 

According to Heart & Stroke, an estimated 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen each year in Canada – that’s 1 every 9 minutes. Currently, only about five per cent of cardiac arrest patients survive, but survival rates could be higher if more people received immediate interventions from bystanders.

Research has shown that early bystander CPR and the use of an automated electronic defibrillator (AED) can nearly double chances of survival.

We know that these can be scary situations. That’s OK, don’t be afraid. If you suspect someone is having or has had a cardiac arrest, call 911 immediately and our highly trained medical call takers can coach you on how to perform CPR and use an AED if one is available until paramedics arrive on scene.

What to look for and what do

A cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops, preventing oxygen from reaching the brain and other vital organs. It causes collapse, inability to respond and ineffective or absent breathing.

​Signs of cardiac arrest:

  • Sudden collapse​
  • Non-responsive
  • Not breathing or breathing in a slow, irregular or snoring-like pattern

What to do:

  1. Call 9-1-1
  2. Start CPR — push hard and fast in the centre of the chest
  3. Use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available​
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