First aid when a heart attack occurs and knowing how to take the correct action is essential for the survival of the affected person, in this article we will try to address some tips to help a person who is suffering from this problem.
Older man is having a heart attack
A heart attack is a life-threatening situation in which every minute counts . Since it is an especially dramatic and shocking situation for family members, they tend to make mistakes that waste important time, and this can be fatal for the affected person. Here we show you how to act in the event of a heart attack and what to avoid.
The most important rules of conduct during a heart attack
There are six important rules of behavior to keep in mind if you suspect a heart attack is happening:
- Do not take a moment to hesitate, call the emergency medical service immediately. Either at night or on the weekend.
- Always call an ambulance before doing anything, do not notify your family doctor or relatives / neighbors, this could waste valuable time.
- Dial 112 and report suspected myocardial infarction or heart attack. Leave your name, address, and a number they can call back.
- Don’t hang up, the control center will end the call if there are no more questions.
- Do not confuse the ambulance service with the emergency and on-call medical service: the emergency medical service is not an ambulance, but a doctor who replaces the family doctor at night and on weekends. It may take a long time to arrive. In the event of a suspected heart attack, it is best to dial 112 directly .
- Don’t drive to the clinic! That could also waste valuable time. The ambulance can provide vital first aid.
First aid in a heart attack: this is what matters
Some people are reluctant to provide first aid in the event of a heart attack. But this hesitation can cost dearly: if you are the first person to act, then do your best to help. Doing something, no matter how little, is better than doing nothing. The most important measures if the affected person is conscious are:
- Do not put him to bed, help him to sit comfortably with his upper body raised, so that the heart is relieved.
- Unbutton tight clothing, such as a belt, necklace, or tie, so the victim can breathe easier.
- Calm the affected person, avoid stress and panic as much as possible.
- Don’t leave him alone until the rescue service arrives. Cardiac arrest could occur, in which the patient would need to be revived.
Myocardial infarction: first aid measures in case of cardiac arrest
If no pulse or respiration is detected, the patient went from a heart attack to cardiac arrest . In this case, you should begin resuscitation immediately , as even a few minutes without oxygen to the brain can cause damage. Resuscitation measures include:
- Defibrillation when a defibrillator is on site.
- Chest compressions.
- Mouth-to-mouth / nose breathing.
The victim should be lying on his back on a hard surface, preferably on the ground. The first person to respond will kneel beside you. The head of the affected person must be stretched as far as possible, so that the airways are free . The correct point for chest compressions is at the top of the lower third of the sternum, approximately where an imaginary line between the nipples would cross over the sternum.
You should press at this point twice a second, about two inches deep, and then release completely. After pressing it 30 times, take mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breaths twice.
One must perform this procedure 30 times: or until the person regains consciousness, breathes normally, or the ambulance arrives. If you are afraid to take the breaths, you should always apply chest compressions. Anyone who provides first aid for a heart attack in this way has done everything possible to help the victim, and may even have saved their life.