Defibrillators and CPR Halve Cardiac Deaths in Marathons

Significant Findings on Cardiac Arrests

Recent research indicates that cardiac arrests during U.S. marathons and half-marathons have remained steady from 2010 to 2023. However, the death rate from these incidents has dramatically decreased by nearly 50%. This improvement is largely due to the faster emergency response times and the increased availability of defibrillators.

Defibrillators in use during a marathon

The study underscores the importance of CPR and defibrillators in saving lives during high-stress events like marathons. As more races equip their teams with these life-saving tools, participants can feel safer knowing that help is readily available in case of emergencies.