Act fast: Basic steps to take when you see someone having a heart attack

Time waits for nothing, especially when you witness something like a heart attack that requires more than just your immediate attention. It requires speed. Anything you do can save a life or make the situation worse. What you need to do is make sure the situation improves. What you should not do is panic.

Heart attacks are becoming common, but they are not an ordinary sight so you will know what to do. So here is a handbook that can come in handy for those moments.

But before we tell you what to do, it is essential to learn about a heart attack.

Symptoms of heart attacks

Usually, heart attacks can be silent and there may be no warning signs. However, they sometimes give warning signs that need to be identified. These signs and symptoms can appear days or weeks before a heart attack. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of a heart attack:

• The person will have chest pain that can be characterized by pressure or tightness in the chest, or a feeling of chest pain. This chest pain does not go away with rest
• Pain in the arms, shoulders, arm, back, neck, teeth, jaw, or upper abdomen
• Indigestion, nausea, heartburn or stomach pain
• shortness of breath
• dizziness or fainting
• sweating

What do you do when someone has a heart attack?

Call the local emergency number or take the person to the hospital

There is no time to wait after recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack. Get them to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. If you cannot drive, call a local emergency number or call someone for help.

Give the person an aspirin

While aspirin is not a cure for a heart attack, it can reduce heart damage. It is an over-the-counter drug that is taken to treat headaches, pain, and fever. Because it is coagulant, it can prevent blood clots, thus reducing damage to the heart. However, since aspirin is not for everyone, you should check if the person you’re taking it isn’t allergic to aspirin. If they are not allergic, a small dose of 160-335 mg is recommended during a heart attack. It is also recommended that you have the person chew or crush the tablet before swallowing it for faster results.

Perform CPR if the person is unconscious

CPR, also known as CPR, is a first aid technique performed in a medical emergency, such as a heart attack.

When a person has a heart attack and his heart stops working. As a result, the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body, including the brain, is cut off.

CPR ensures that oxygen-rich blood continues to flow to the brain and other organs until medical help arrives. This technique involves strong, rapid chest compressions.

If you think you are a person who is not trained to perform CPR including rescue breaths, it is suggested that you perform CPR with hands only, rather than doing anything. Please note that it is always better to try than to sit back and watch and do absolutely nothing. The difference between doing something and doing nothing at all can be someone’s life.

Checklist before you begin CPR

• The person must be unconscious.
• Check the person’s pulse and breathing. CPR is performed when there is no pulse or breathing. If you don’t feel a pulse or breath for 10 seconds, it’s time to start chest compressions. If you find the person breathing, put them in the recovery position and watch their breathing. Start CPR if breathing stops.
• CPR cannot be performed on a newborn baby.

How to perform CPR (using rescue breaths) if you are a trained professional

• Put the person down. Make sure that their backs are on the ground.

• Begin CPR with 30 chest compressions. Place one hand on top of the other to interlock them together. Push hard and quickly into the center of the chest, just below the nipples, with the heels of both hands and straight elbows.

• Drive at least 2 inches deep. Perform these 30 compressions. Allow the chest to rise fully between compressions.

• Give the person two rescue breaths. Make sure their mouth is clean. You can start by tilting his head back slightly and lifting his chin. Close his nose and place your entire mouth over his nose. Blowing to make their chest rise.

• Repeat this cycle, including 30 compressions and rescue breaths, until help arrives.

If you are not trained, perform CPR only manually

• Continue to push the person’s chest at a rate of 100 to 120 times per minute (press down about 2 inches each time.) Be sure to allow their chest to come back up between these compressions.

Concluding thoughts

Acting quickly and effectively when faced with a heart attack can mean the difference between life and death. By recognizing the signs, calling emergency services immediately, and initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary, you can greatly increase your chances of survival and reduce potential damage to the heart. Equipping yourself with knowledge about these essential steps and spreading awareness among others can create a community where everyone is ready to respond quickly in the face of heart attacks, saving countless lives and ensuring a healthier future for all.

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