UPDATED content 7-26-23 - including expert video interview on right column

DALLAS, July 25, 2023 — The family of Bronny James, son of NBA basketball player LeBron James, reported that Bronny experienced cardiac arrest on Monday, July 24, while working out with his basketball team. He has been stabilized and is out of intensive care. No other details were immediately released.  

On-site care explanation 

James reportedly experienced a cardiac arrest – when the heart stops abruptly with little or no warning. Early recognition of cardiac arrest improves the person’s chance of survival and is key to starting the correct care of CPR and the appropriate use of defibrillation to restart the heart. The on-site medical team rapidly evaluated the situation and appeared to respond quickly by immediately starting CPR and reportedly using a closely located AED

CPR can help keep the heart pumping and blood flowing to vital organs until an electrical shock from a defibrillator is available to restore the heart to a normal heart rhythm. Then the patient can be safely moved for further medical treatment, supportive care, testing to determine what the cause of the arrest may have been and recovery, including both physical and mental health resources for the person and their family.

There is no indication of the cause of James’ cardiac arrest at this time.

“Our thoughts are with the entire James family as they work through this health emergency,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Recognizing cardiac arrest, calling 911 immediately, performing CPR and using an AED as soon as it is available are critical for survival.”

Having community members trained in CPR and AEDs in public spaces can increase the chances of survival. The rate of bystander CPR in North America is estimated at only 39-44%, and only about 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Improving the rate of bystander CPR is critical to increasing survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The Association launched its Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative to further improve the rate of people willing to act in a cardiac emergency.

The skill to perform CPR and use a defibrillator are the foundational components of preparing laypeople to respond to cardiac arrest. People also need to feel emotionally prepared to respond and be able to cope with the aftermath of actually performing CPR.[1]

 

Resources for learning CPR

Each year in the United States, an estimated 350,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest in the community[2]. Anyone who witnesses a cardiac arrest in the community (i.e., not in a hospital) can perform CPR. More than 70% of cardiac arrests that do not happen in the hospital, occur in homes and private residences, therefore, a friend or family member is mostly likely to be the person who needs to take action. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

For adults and adolescent children, Hands-Only CPR is an easy-to-learn skill that requires only two steps: call emergency services and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute.

Additional Resources: 

 About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.  

###  

For Media Inquiries and AHA Expert Perspective: 

Karen Springs, 214-706-4831,karen.springs@heart.org 

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) 

heart.org and stroke.org    

 

[1] Understanding the Importance of the Lay Responder Experience in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001054 

[2] Heart disease and stroke statistics-2022 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052