Cardiac arrest treatment is a community issue, requiring a wide range of people to be prepared to act, including bystanders, family members, first responders, emergency medical personnel, and health care providers.  Charlottesville Fire Department's role in caring for cardiac arrest victims is to provide life support services upon arrival at the patient and rapidly transporting the patient to the nearest healthcare facility.  

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate measures how many patients survive from initial contact by CFD personnel to being dropped off at an emergency room.