Emergency personnel recognize seven links in the chain of cardiac arrest survival, according to Cheryl Rickens of UPMC and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association:

- Awareness and action

- Calling 911

- Early CPR

- Early defibrillation

- First responders

- Hospital intervention

- Rehabilitation and recovery

Educating bystanders how to properly respond to a cardiac arrest is key to the chain holding strong, according to Rickens.