Introduction: The sudden unexpected deaths of basketball players Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis in the early 1990s sparked a new awareness on sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).SCA is responsible for approximately 350,000 deaths in the U.S.each year and is the number one cause of death in young athletes in high school and college settings.Survival and outcomes of SCA is dependent on appropriate recognition of symptoms and immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) along with a life saving shock from an automatic external defibrillator (AED).Current research has focused on etiology and incidence of SCA.Minimal research exists on understanding what students know about SCA, specifically those individuals with a higher incidence of SCA.College and high school students and students involved in sports are at higher risk for SCA, with exercise as a common trigger for SCA.Objectives: (1) Describe college students perceptions and beliefs about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).(2) Describe college students understanding of an AED and their level of preparedness to recognize and respond to a life threatening emergency event.(3) Identify college students experiences of handling life threatening emergency events.Methods: Qualitative methodology was employed using an online survey to obtain written narrative responses from 30 university students to describe their understanding and ability to recognize SCA and manage a life threatening emergency event.Results: Three major themes emerged: confusion, uncertainty, and fear/uneasiness characterized students perceptions and beliefs about SCA.Conclusion: A lack of understanding of what SCA is and students inability to effectively respond in an emergency event was clear in this study.Recognition of SCA and immediate implementation of bystander CPR/AED use greatly improves survival rates.Education and implementation of such programs should be considered across college campuses.