What To Do If Someone Is Having A Heart Attack?
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack is a severe condition where the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot.
What are the causes?
Thrombosis (blood clotting)
Lifestyle – diet, drinking, smoking
What are the symptoms?
A sudden feeling of severe chest pain, pressure, tightness, squeezing or aching in the chest can all be signs that a person is having a heart attack. The pain can radiate into arms (yes both arms, not just the left arm) and spread to the neck, jaw, back and between the shoulders. The pain can sometimes be mistaken for indigestion.
Other symptoms include:-
- coughing
- nausea
- vomiting
- crushing chest pain
- dizziness
- shortness of breath called dyspnea
- face looking grey
- a sense of impending doom
- feeling awful, generally
- restlessness
- feeling clammy and sweaty
- shortness of breath
What to do if someone is having a heart attack?
Call 999 or 112 immediately to get help and tell them that you think someone is having a heart attack.
Keep the patient comfortable, ideally on the floor, with their knees bent and their head supported.
If you think the casualty is in danger where they are, move them to a safer location.
If the casualty becomes unresponsive, perform CPR.
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What you should not do
Move the patient, unless they are in danger.
Induce vomiting.
Give them anything to eat or drink.
How can you reduce the risk of a heart attack?
The best way of preventing a heart attack is to have a healthy lifestyle and regular health checks.
Below is a list of ways you can ensure a healthy lifestyle:
- not smoking
- eating a balanced and healthy diet
- taking regular exercise
- getting plenty of good quality sleep
- keeping diabetes under control
- not consuming too much alcohol
- keeping your cholesterol at a safe level
- maintaining a healthy blood pressure level
- controlling your body weight
- avoiding stress
When should you call 999?
As soon as you suspect someone is having a heart attack, or even if you are unsure.
If you work in an environment where there is a higher risk of somebody having a heart attack, attending the QA Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work would give you the knowledge and skills to best deal with this situation.
If you have a question or enquiry about first aid, please call the team on 01452 502113 or complete our enquiry form.
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Training Available
Envesca offer a number of different training courses, which offer advice and guidance on these topics.
Highfield Level 2 Award in Health and Safety
This one-day Level 2 Health and Safety course will provide you with an understanding of how to work safely within your organisation.
Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work Course
This one-day first aid course will provide you with the necessary knowledge and practical skills you need to administer emergency first aid in the workplace.Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work Annual Refresher
This half-day practical first aid annual refresher course provides first aiders with an opportunity to practise and refresh their knowledge and practical first aid skills.Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work
This three-day course will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to give basic life support, diagnose and treat a wide range of injuries or illnesses.Share this article with your social Community.
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