Onlookers often assume the child has simply had the wind knocked out of him or her. But this can be a catastrophic assumption because, in fact, the child may have experienced a potentially fatal event. Adults attending such sporting events may not realize that the child's heart has stopped and that immediate help is needed. If ventricular fibrillation is detected, the AED provides a brief, intense pulse of electricity to the heart, delivered through pads that are applied to the chest, to terminate the episode and save the victim's life. Commotio Cordis is increasingly being reported in youth sports.
Young athletes are especially at risk because of the pliability of their chest walls.
Despite wearing chest protectors and taking other precautions, children have died from Commotio Cordis while playing baseball, lacrosse, hockey and softball. More than 125 cases have been documented since the formation of the United States Commotio Cordis Registry three years ago, but the true number of deaths is unknown because of underreporting and misclassification. In those animals where ventricular fibrillation was present for more than four minutes, CPR instituted after defibrillation increased the likelihood of survival from 0 percent to 65 percent. Furthermore, it should prompt adults who are engaged in supervising youth athletics to recognize the signs of SCA, learn CPR and have an AED readily available. Victims of SCA generally collapse without warning, do not have a pulse and are not breathing normally.