Suppose you are in a mall, and you notice a man clutching the handrail for support as he winces in pain. He gasps for air and breaks into a cold sweat. A few minutes later, he passes out, and someone needs to call 911.
While this may seem like a scene from a movie, heart attacks occur every 40 seconds in the real world. It can happen anytime, even if you are at rest or asleep. It can strike anywhereat home, at work, in the gym, and any other public place.
Heart attacks are common in middle-aged or older adults, but even healthy people can suffer from them. This condition occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood due to a blockage in the arteries, often after strenuous activity or a stressful event. It is a critical condition that can progress into a cardiac arrest. Not receiving immediate medical attention can damage the heart and other organs. Worse, it can even lead to death.
Awareness of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack can help you take pro-active steps during an emergency. This information can come in handy, especially if one of your loved ones would suffer from a heart attack at home.
Steps To Take When Someone Is Having A Heart Attack
Everyone needs to recognize the five signs of a heart attack to be able to respond and obtain immediate medical assistance whenever someone suddenly suffers from an attack. In addition to chest pain that spreads to the neck, shoulder, back, and jaw, a heart attack can also make people dizzy, nauseous, and weak. The person may look pale, sweaty, and show shortness of breath.
You can also use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) if it’s available. Several establishments keep this as part of their first aid kit. For example, if you look at the first aid policy for a church, it’s highly recommended the premises have an AED.The AED provides instructions on what to do. It can also automatically determine if the person needs an electrical shock to restore a heartbeat.
You need to do the following steps to help someone who’s suffering from a heart attack:
- Have the person sit down on a chair or on the ground and lean on a wall. Sitting relieves strain on the heart. Once the person is in a stable position, call 911 or your local emergency medical service number.
- If there is no way to call, you can drive the person to the nearest hospital instead. You may also seek the help of other passersby if you don’t know how to reach the nearest hospital.
- While waiting for help to arrive, ask the person about information regarding their name and address. You can also ask if there are taking any medications or if they have allergies. Inquire about critical phone numbers and contact persons, such as their relatives or who their Orlando cardiologist is if they are from that area.
- Loosen their clothing and ask them to lie down and raise their feet to restore blood flow if they feel faint.
- Assist them in taking medication. Have them slowly chew aspirin to prevent blood clots and reduce heart damage. Alternately they can take nitroglycerin. Ask them if they are feeling better. If not, they can take another dose of nitroglycerin.
- If the person collapses but remains breathing, tilt their head and pull the tongue forward to clear their airway.
- You can also put them in a ‘recovery position’ where they lie on their side with their head tilted back. This position keeps the airway open so blood and vomit can drain from the mouth.
- If the person has irregular breathing, appears gasping, or does not breathe at all, you need to perform CPR to keep blood pumping around the body and keep their vital organs alive. Position your hands above the person’s chest and press hard at a rate of 25 compressions per 15 seconds. Begin rescue breathing after 30 compressions.
Another method is to push as hard and fast as you can on the center of the person’s chest until help arrives, or until the person becomes conscious and responsive. CPR and this hands-only method help prevent the heart from stopping entirely (cardiac arrest) and improves the person’s chance of survival.
You can also use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) if it’s available. Several establishments keep this as part of their first aid kit. The AED provides instructions on what to do. It can also automatically determine if the person needs an electrical shock to restore a heartbeat.
Act Fast
A heart attack is a critical condition that requires immediate medical attention. Recognizing its signs and symptoms allows people to act even before medical help arrives. It is also vital to revive the person through CPR to minimize damage to the brain, heart, and other organs. Knowing all these may help you save others from the dangers of a heart attack.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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