What to Do for Heart Attack & Stroke

If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack or stroke, do you know what to do? How to help your victim before professional medical help can be rendered? Immediately pick up the phone and dial an Emergency Medical Service - usually by dialing 911. Be sure you know the classic signs of a heart attack and stroke to be ready to help another person in a life-threatening crisis. You could save the life of a family member or a neighbor by just being ready, responsible, and knowing what to do before EMS arrives.

Here are the classic signs of heart attacks and strokes and how you should handle your victims, depending on their level of consciousness.

Heart attack classic signs

*Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, tightness, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes and comes back

*Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, or arms

*Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath

Stroke classic signs

*Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body

*Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye

*Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech

*Sudden, severe headaches with no known cause

*Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls - especially along the with any of the above symptoms

Whether the victim is concious or unconcious determines the course of treatment.

For a conscious victim:

*Help the victim with heart medication if it is available

*Help the victim get comfortable by loosening any neckties, tight collars, or belts. Have the victim sit comfortably to help make breathing easier

*Keep the victim warm

*Reassure the victim an keep him or her calm until help arrives

For an unconcious victim:

*Maintain an open airway

*Restore breathing and circulation using CPR

*Don't give up

Gas can be mistaken for a heart attack. The average heart-attack victim waits 2-3 hours before calling for help or going to the ER. If your victim experiences the symptoms of a heart attack, it is best to call for help or go to a hospital emergency room immediately. Blood-clot-dissolving drugs work best if administered as soon as symptoms of a heart-attack appear. Certain drugs also are available to doctors to help minimize stroke damage. Time is of the essence, in both instances.