How you can help a heart attack victim?

IF YOU don’t want to be handicapped when someone suffers a heart attack, here are some signs to look out for and ways you can help.

How do I know if someone is going to have a heart attack?

He may complain of:

• A sudden crushing, vice-like pain in the centre of the chest, sometimes described as severe indigestion.
• This may spread to the arms, throat, jaw, stomach or back and does not subside with rest.
• He may suddenly feel dizzy, causing him to sit down or lean against a wall.
• His skin may be ashen and his lips, hands and feet may become blue.
• He may perspire a lot.
• He may become breathless.
• His pulse may be fast and become weak and irregular.
• He shows signs of shock.
• He may become unconscious.
• His breathing may stop and there is no heart beat.

What must I do to help?

• Waste no time. Call for an ambulance immediately. Get urgent medical help and transfer him to as hospital as soon as possible.
• Reduce the work of the heart. If he is conscious, let him lie down on a flat surface. Do not let him move unnecessarily as this will put extra strain on his heart. If he comes breathless, he may feel more comfortable in a semi-sitting position.
• Loosen tight clothing around his neck, chest and waist.
• Monitor his breathing rate, pulse and level of responsiveness.
• If he becomes unconscious, make sure that the airway is not blocked and that he is breathing.
• If he is not breathing, provide mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing.
• Check the pulse. If he has no pulse, begin cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Where can I learn rescue breathing and CPR?

Courses are available at various medical bodies, such as the Singapore Red Cross Society, St John Ambulance Brigade and the Singapore Medical Association. They are also offered at various hospitals. For East Shore Hospital courses, call 340-8658.

If someone has a heart attack, wouldn’t it be better for me to drive him to hospital than wait for the ambulance?

This should be done only if it is anticipated that the ambulance will take a very long time, and the patient is in a stable condition.

But in Singapore, an ambulance will be able to reach the victim fairly quickly and skilled professionals and all the necessary equipment will be available with the ambulance. Emergency treatment can be carried out on the way to the hospital.

The ambulance will also be given priority on the road and this will ensure a faster, more comfortable and anxiety-free ride to the hospital.

What if it is not a heart attack and I have called the ambulance?

It is better to be safe than sorry. Let the doctor decide if it is a heart attack. If it is angina, he may still need to be admitted for further tests.

I am told that chest pains can sometimes be due to angina. What is angina? How can I tell a heart attack from angina?

Angina refers to chest pains arising from the heart. These are usually the forerunners to a heart attack. Usually an electro-cardiogram will tell the difference between a heart attack and angina. Confirmatory blood tests can also be done.

How dangerous is a heart attack? What possible damage could occur, even if the person comes round?

A heart attack is a life-threatening situation. If a heart attack is massive, it can kill a person within minutes. Fifty per cent of heart attack victims die before they can reach the hospital.

The risk of dying is also higher in older people. If a person survives a heart attack, he is usually left with a weakened heart.

The severity of the damage to the heart muscles depends on the severity of the heart attack. The amount of damage can be reduced by early arrival at the hospital where special medication can be given.

Emergency telephone numbers

Stick important telephone numbers next to your telephone so that you can get them fast. In emergencies, many people often forget their home phone number and address.

Some emergency numbers to include are those of the Singapore Joint Civil Defence Forces Fire/Ambulance Emergency, the police, the nearest hospital’s accident and emergency unit, your doctor, your nearest relative/neighbour who can help (or know CPR, if you do not), your home phone number and address.

When calling the ambulance, give your phone number, address, and tell them that it may be a heart attack.