Timing is everything

Timing is everything. A simple hit to the chest at the right time can be deadly. This is illustrated in the CNN.com article from 12/8/10 where a 16 year old catcher was hit in the chest and collapsed. This is a classic example of commotio cordis. Commotio cordis is a condition where sudden cardiac death occurs when there is a forceful blow to the chest over the left ventricle 10-30 m sec before the peak of the T-wave of the heart contraction cycle. While this is a very rare problem, it is estimated that there is a 90% mortality rate and illustrates the need for an AED to be accessible where ever athletic practices are held.