WHAT SCA REALLY
LOOKS LIKE
![](https://survivingsca.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/banner__what_sca_really_looks_like.jpg)
AGONAL RESPIRATIONS IN SCA
56%
Presented agonal respirations during SCA
39%
of those who gasped during SCA Survive
9%
of those who did not gasp during SCA survive
WHAT SCA REALLY LOOKS LIKE
It is a common misconception that no pulse equates to no movement of the victim. However, that is not always the case for most people, especially in sudden cardiac arrest.
It is common for people that go into sudden cardiac arrest to gasp and grunt or moan for air, a response also known as agonal respirations. This shows that their brain is still operating and it is trying to receive oxygen for survival. It is important that bystanders do not mistake a sign of help as breathing. Gasping and grunting means that the person needs help and has to get chest compressions straight away. This reaction is a promising sign, as gasping and grunting in sudden cardiac arrest patients has been proven to be linked with a higher survival rate than those victims who don’t present these signs.
This reaction is a promising sign, as gasping and grunting in sudden cardiac arrest patients has been proven to be linked with a higher survival rate than those victims who don’t present these signs.
Another sign of sudden cardiac arrest in a person is urination. Because the body loses all basic functions, the muscles that control the bladder relax. Additionally, the turning of the skin blue or pale is a clear indicator that the person is not breathing normally and CPR should be performed immediately.