Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) – The onset of an abnormal heart rhythm, lack of pulse, and absence of breath, leading to a loss of consciousness. If a pulse is not restored within a few minutes, death occurs. SCA usually occurs because of ventricular fibrillation.

Defibrillation – The method by which an electrical shock is delivered to the heart through externally applied electrode paddles or pads placed on the chest. The purpose of this shock is to terminate ventricular fibrillation, which is an uncoordinated erratic series of ineffective muscular contractions of the heart, which occur in the early stages of cardiac arrest for three to six minutes. Fibrillation, if not terminated by this procedure, is most often followed by cardiac or heart standstill and death.

Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) – Is a device used to administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. Built-in computers assess the victim’s heart rhythm, judge whether defibrillation is needed and then administers the shock. Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process.

Electrode or Electrode Pad – These are conductors used to establish electrical contact with the human body or skin. These pads are usually constructed of self-adhesive foam containing wires, foil, and conductive gel or hydro-adhesive materials.

Electrocardiogram/Electrocardioscope (ECG or EKG) – The instrument or the procedure by which the electrical wave pattern produced by each heartbeat is displayed and/or monitored. ECG and EKG are used interchangeable.

External Cardiac Pacing – Refers to an emergency procedure whereby small electrical pulses are delivered to the heart through externally applied electrodes to cause the heart to “beat”, or contract, in a fashion adequate to maintain life when the hearts own natural pacing system has failed.

Medical Informatics – Is a scientific discipline that concerns itself with the cognitive, information processing and communication tasks of healthcare practice, education and research, including the information science and technology to support these tasks.

Telematics – Is the use of telecommunication in conjunction with informatics, e.g. the passing of information from one computer to another via a telephone line or other electronic link. The basic promises of telematics are obvious: by giving access to any form of knowledge anywhere, it speeds up the diffusion of information, saves time, increases collaboration between individuals and groups, and improves the quality of decisions.