What to do if someone is having a heart attack: if you are prepared to deal with the unexpected, you can save a life

Perhaps one of the most frightening and stressful situations one can encounter is to witness someone having a heart attack--whether at home or in public--and not knowing what to do to help.

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Being faced with this scenario is probably more likely to occur than you might think when you consider that heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Statistics indicate that about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack annually. Nearly 500,000 of those heart attacks are fatal, and medical experts say about half of those deaths occur within an hour of the start of symptoms--and before the person reaches the hospital.

According to the American Heart Association and other medical organizations, the symptoms of a heart attack are easily identifiable, with most heart attacks starting slowly and usually associated with mild pain or discomfort in the center of the chest. The discomfort--uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain--often goes away and comes back. Other signs include shortness of breath, heartburn and/or indigestion, pain in one or both arms, the neck, back, jaw or stomach. The discomfort also might include nausea, a cold sweat or lightheadedness.

So what should you do if you encounter someone who's having a heart attack? Since every moment counts, call 9-1-1 immediately. While waiting for professional medical care to arrive, tips in the column (right) are recommendations from several medical authorities that could lessen damage to the heart and help to keep the victim alive.

If you are not trained in CPR or don't know how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), which are found in many public places, the American Heart Association can help you to get the proper instruction in your area.

In a time when heart attacks are so prevalent, medical experts say that the best thing you can do is be prepared to act when the unexpected occurs.

* DON'T PANIC because you could be the only link between the victim's life or death.

* TRY TO KEEP THE VICTIM CALM, and have him/her sit or lie down.

* DON'T ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE PERSON TO THE HOSPITAL or some other medical facility; wait for help to arrive.

* SOME DOCTORS SUGGEST HAVING THE PERSON CHEW AND SWALLOW A NON-COATED ASPIRIN. They shouldn't swallow it whole, doctors say.

* IF THE VICTIM STOPS BREATHING, YOU OR ANOTHER QUALIFIED PERSON SHOULD PERFORM CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) immediately. In addition, if available, use an automated external defibrillator (AED), which delivers an electric shock to the heart to try to restart it and begin to beat in a normal manner.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning