Normalizing grief and debunking myths to support bereaved families of cardiac arrest patients- the invisible majority.

Summary: Bereaved families feel invisible and deserve to be better represented in research and included at a survival summit. We are challenging the status quo with a call to action for more research, education, and support focused on this invisible majority.

Synopsis of Presentation: In the United States, 9 out of 10 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients succumb to death leaving behind grieving families and friends to manage their prolonged and persistent psychological distress. The researchers and scientific conferences, including Cardiac Arrest Survival Summit, have traditionally focused on survivors and co-survivors, with little attention on the perception of the circumstances during and after the unsuccessful resuscitation of their loved ones and how it impacts their psychological burden.

Myths and unspoken rules are embedded in the care and handling of family inclusion during an event. There are fractured guidelines and systems with no standardized protocol or harmonized procedures in both Canada and the US. This includes management of the victim or deceased post-arrest. Families are typically mired in shock and grief, unaware of options regarding visitation time limits, burial options, body transport, and so on.

Human beings, regardless of cultural, religious or historical backgrounds, are united by one common bond: The need to communicate, and to know that we are not alone. Prolonged grief experienced by bereaved family members after cardiac arrest is intensified by unspoken myths and rules that are potentially harmful as they face the challenges of navigating difficult decisions in a complex health-care system. We are challenging the status quo by creating conversations about the unmet needs of the bereaved with a call to action for more research, education and support focused on this invisible majority.