Page 12 - Safety - Issue 1

12 | Safety

Heart Attack & Alone

I n the movies, there is always out if you feel any type of
It’s always best to get checked
someone nearby to call an
discomfort in your chest. Other
ambulance and provide first aid
symptoms include: rapid breathing,
during a heart attack. But do you
feeling faint or ill, unexplained pain
know what to do if you have a
heart attack when you’re alone?
(back, neck, stomach or jaw), nausea,
It’s important to recognize
dizziness, vomiting, weakness,
that real-life first aid and serious in the left shoulder or upper body
medical symptoms rarely present extreme anxiety and irregular or
themselves the way they do in movies. rapid heartbeats.
Heart attacks aren’t always so obvious. Note that common expectations
Symptoms can appear similar to and depictions of heart attack
heartburn, indigestion and/or panic symptoms don’t always match
attacks, which is why it is possible reality. Women are more likely to
to have a heart attack without even have atypical symptoms that may
realizing it. exclude chest pain. Scarily enough,
This is one reason why many people half of those who have a heart attack
wait to seek treatment. But heart attacks have what is known as a “silent
detected and treated within the first few heart attack,” where there are no
hours significantly reduce damage to the symptoms, but blocked blood flow
heart and increase the rate of survival. to the heart causes damage and
scars the heart nonetheless.
If you’re alone and suspect you are
having a heart attack:
• Call 9-1-1 immediately.
• Do not attempt to drive to the hospital.
If you’re already driving, pull over.
• Try no t to move around.
• If appropriate, take aspirin without
water. Chew for faster results.
• Lie down on your back and elevate your
feet 12 inches off the ground.
• Calm down as much as you can. Try
deep breaths and meditation.
• Lower your body temperature with a
cool cloth under the armpits.
• Don’t attempt cough CPR.
• Avoid food and drinks.
• Call a friend or family member while
you wait for EMS to arrive.