How soon after the heart stops must cryonics begin?
Cryonics procedures should ideally begin within the first one or two minutes after the heart stops, and preferably within 15 minutes. Longer delays place a greater burden on future technology to reverse injury and restore the brain to a healthy state, and make it less likely that the correct original state can be determined. Exactly when such restoration is no longer feasible is a matter of some debate and could be many hours. The greatest impact of delay is that it prevents treatment by chemicals that reduce freezing injury. For further information, see the FAQ question “Doesn’t the brain die after 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen?,” the article “Cardiopulmonary Support in Cryonics,” and the “Cases without Cardiopulmonary Support” section of Alcor Procedures. The most effective way of reducing delays and getting the highest quality cryopreservation is to relocate to cooperative hospice care near Alcor (see the FAQ question “What can I do to optimize my chances of being cryopreserved unde
