(WENY) -- Every second that passes could mean life or death for people experiencing cardiac arrest.  

“It's actually...a very rare problem, thankfully,” Dr. Ben McClintic, a non-invasive cardiologist with Guthrie Cardiology, said. “There are enough athletes in our county that...even though it's rare...it's a severe outcome in an, otherwise healthy, patient.”  

 Dr. McClintic said there are quite a few causes for cardiac arrest. 

“Some are inborn, right,” he said. “Genetic causes abnormalities of the heart muscle or electrical system....it can lead to someone passing out on the playing field.”  

Dr. McClintic said when someone experiences cardiac arrest, rapid heart signals are causing the lower heart chambers to essentially quiver, instead of pumping blood. With all the high-profile incidents, some people believe the Covid-19 vaccine is to blame.  

“It's very rare to get myocarditis from the vaccine but it can happen...and it is more common in young men,” he said. “Myocarditis...which is something we have known about for a long time. It's inflammation of the heart muscle, caused by various things. Viruses are a very common cause.”  

When it comes to prevention, Dr. McClintic said there are a few ways to detect if you are more prone to go into cardiac arrest. 

“In general, in athletes, screening for those inborn, or already existing conditions, can prevent problems...especially in high-level athletes that are pushing their hearts to the max,” he said. 

Town & Country Fire Department's Captain Stephen Walters is an EMT who has a few tips on how to save someone's life if they are going into cardiac arrest. 

“Check them for responsiveness,” he said. “Then, you want to place them on their back. You want to start the emergency process. Call 9-1-1...make sure the proper medical people are on the way and the third thing you want to do, if they're not breathing or they don't have a pulse, is do CPR.” 

Captain Walters said you should perform CPR until you can get your hands on an Automated External Defibrillator. 

“It's one of our big helpers when people go into cardiac arrest,” he said.