A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen. However, the severity of the damage can be minimized thanks to prompt intervention; therefore, immediate recognition of the symptoms of a heart attack and immediate transport to the hospital can dramatically increase a person's chances of survival. This article outlines the steps required to rescue a person with a suspected heart attack. Heart attack can be a traumatizing event, but understanding the importance of its early management can save a life.
Steps
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms and signs of a heart attack
- Generally, the person will experience severe pain in the center of the chest that spreads to the chin and left arm.
- The person may feel short of breath and feel sick or dizzy.
- It can be pale (ashy) or drenched in sweat.
Step 2. Call an ambulance immediately
- If possible, ask a passer-by to call an ambulance while you assist the patient. Make sure this person tells you something when the ambulance is on its way.
- Ask a second passerby to find a defibrillator and first aid kit, in case you need to resuscitate the patient.
- If there are no people around, call the ambulance yourself. Follow the advice of the emergency room operator. Inform him in detail about the condition of the person in distress, noting that he suspects it may be a heart attack.
Step 3. Put the person in a sitting position, with the knees raised
Make sure he has back support. Try to keep the person calm and still. Once you've done this, loosen any tight clothing.
Step 4. Ask the person if they have any medications for heart problems with them
Could have sublingual nitroglycerin spray; if he has it, spray the solution twice under his tongue. The substance contained in the sublingual nitroglycerin spray helps dilate blood vessels to facilitate blood flow.
Step 5. Give him aspirin
Check the dose in mg of the aspirin tablet and try to give the patient a dose of about 300 mg (two or four children's aspirins, one whole tablet). Tell him to chew the aspirin slowly, as chewing the aspirin is more effective than swallowing it whole. Aspirin inhibits the growth of the block, thanks to its action on blood platelets.
Step 6. Comfort and reassure the patient while you wait for the ambulance
Keep the person warm with a jacket or blanket.
Step 7. If the person stops breathing or collapses, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) begins
Advice
- Never leave the patient alone, except to seek help.
- Call an ambulance immediately. The transport of this person to the hospital must not be delayed for any reason.
- Comfort the patient and keep passersby calm if possible. Assign various tasks to prevent panic reactions.
- The 911 operator is trained to educate people about the best thing to do while waiting for help to arrive. Always follow the directions of the 911 operator.
Warnings
- Heart attacks don't always happen suddenly; a person may have experienced short-lived oppressive chest pains throughout the day. These symptoms should always be taken very seriously.
- If possible, do not transport this person to the hospital with the machine. If you are experiencing these symptoms, do not drive to the hospital. The best way to proceed, if possible, is to call the ambulance and wait for it to arrive.
- Heart attacks don't always present the same way. Sometimes, a person may not feel any chest pain, but may feel pain in the arms or neck, or just have shortness of breath. Be aware of "all" potential signs.
- Sublingual nitroglycerin spray can be harmful if the patient is taking other medications, for example, Viagra. Only give him nitroglycerin spray if it has been prescribed for him by his doctor and only if the patient takes it with him.
- Aspirin can be dangerous if the patient is allergic or has a history of bleeding. Give him aspirin, unless his doctor tells him not to take it.
- It can be difficult to distinguish a heart attack from a minor ailment, such as heartburn. Sometimes, people endure pain or ignore important signals. Always assume it's a heart attack until a medical evaluation rules it out. It is always better for ambulance paramedics to find out that the patient is not having a heart attack than that there is a delay in treatment and the heart muscle is damaged too badly to be able to return to normal beating.
