The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Basic life support (BLS) is a level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care by advanced life support providers (paramedics, nurses, physicians).

Cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), is a medical condition wherein the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving emergency procedure performed on individuals whose heart or breathing has stopped.

Defibrillation is a medical technique used to restore a normal heart rhythm in patients experiencing a life-threatening arrhythmia, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care.