According to the American Heart Association, nearly 900 Americans die each day from a heart attack. The symptoms of heart attack include chest pain, pain and tingling in the left arm that radiates to the neck, nausea, dizziness, fainting and pressure in the solar plexus area.
Call 9-1-1
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience any combination of heart attack symptoms. Each second spent in a heart attack, precious heart muscle dies, and chances of recovery become more slim. Be sure to give the dispatcher the address accurately, and keep the dispatcher on the phone until help arrives.
Medication
At the very first sign of heart attack, the patient should chew and swallow aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood, and the heart does not have to work so hard to pump. If the patient has been prescribed nitroglycerin, it should be taken exactly as prescribed.
Keep the Patient Calm
Have the patient lie down comfortably and remain calm. Overexcitement will increase the heart rate, and the heart will try to pump harder than it is capable of during a heart attack.
Loosen Clothing
Loosen or remove as much clothing as possible. This will make it easier for the medical response team to place leads on the patient, take vitals and administer medication intravenously. The patient may feel less restricted without clothing. Cover the patient with a light sheet for modesty.
Perform CPR
If the patient is unconscious, start CPR immediately. If you do not know CPR, have the 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher talk you through it.
What Not to Do
Do not allow the patient to convince you that the symptoms are not that of a heart attack. Likewise, do not try to wait it out. Heart attack symptoms do not go away and ignoring them will result in death. Do not give the patient anything to eat or drink other than medication. The patient may vomit and inhale anything in the stomach.
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