Chapter 7 · First AidHeart attack
Chapter 7 · First Aid

Heart attack

1 min read

Signs: pain, pressure, tightness, or burning in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes; pain spreading to the arm(s), back, neck, jaw, or stomach; shortness of breath; cold sweat; nausea; dizziness. In women, older adults, and people with diabetes, chest pain is often mild or absent, and shortness of breath, nausea, extreme fatigue, or back or jaw pain predominate.

  1. Call 911 immediately. Do not drive the person yourself unless 911 tells you to or there is no other option: paramedics start treatment on the way.
  2. Have the person stop all activity and sit or lie down in the most comfortable position (usually half-sitting).
  3. Aspirin: if the person is conscious, not allergic, has no known contraindication, and the 911 dispatcher or their doctor says so, they can chew aspirin as directed.
  4. If they take prescribed nitroglycerin, help them take their own as their doctor directed.
  5. If they lose consciousness and aren't breathing normally: CPR and AED.