For those of you who are close to people with heart disease, it is important to know first aid techniques for heart attacks. This is because the first aid you give can save someone's life.
A heart attack is a medical emergency when the blood flow that carries oxygen to the heart is stopped due to a blockage. This condition can damage the heart muscle because it does not get oxygen supply and can be life threatening.
Recognizing Heart Attack Symptoms Quickly
Because lives can be at stake, it's important to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack well. Indeed, the symptoms of a heart attack that appear can be different for each person. However, there are some common symptoms that are important to know, such as:
- Chest pain, such as being pressed against a heavy object or pulled, that lasts for a few minutes
- Chest pain that radiates to the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, sternum, and upper body
- Hard to breathe
- Nausea, vomiting, heartburn
- Body feels very weak and dizzy
- Cold sweat
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
How to Give First Aid
If someone around you is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack as above, here are the first aids you can give:
In patients who are still conscious
If the person having a heart attack is still conscious, the first aid for a heart attack that can be done includes:
- Try to calm the patient and call an ambulance as soon as possible.
- While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, guide the patient to sit on a chair, on the floor, or against a wall. Sitting on the floor is preferable because it can reduce injury if the patient suddenly faints.
- After he sits down, loosen all the clothes he is wearing.
- If the patient has nitroglycerin medication prescribed by a doctor, give this medication to him immediately. The method of administration is by placing the tablet under the tongue.
- If available, give aspirin 325 mg and ask the patient to chew it, but make sure you are sure the patient has no history of bleeding and aspirin allergy.
- Avoid giving any food or drink by mouth.
- After first aid for a heart attack is given and an ambulance arrives, immediately take him to the ER or the nearest hospital.
- If the patient is unconscious while waiting, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
In an unconscious patient
For an unconscious patient, the following are the first aids you can provide:
- Call an ambulance immediately or ask someone else to call the nearest ambulance and hospital.
- While waiting for help to arrive, lay the patient on a flat surface and perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
- For those who have not received CPR training, only perform chest compressions. This is done by placing one hand on the center of the victim's chest, then placing the other hand on top of the first hand.
After that, close the fingers of both hands and press the chest up to 5-6 cm down, then release. Perform follow-up chest compressions 100-120 times per minute until help arrives or the patient responds. Alternate with another helper if you are tired of doing CPR on your own.
- For those who have been trained, you can do CPR with the help of breath.
- If you have an AED nearby (automated external defibrillator), take advantage of it. You just need to turn it on and follow the voice guidance that comes out of the AED regarding the steps for using the AED.
- Take the patient immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room.
If you are having a heart attack yourself, immediately stop whatever activity you are doing and find a safe place. Notify those closest to you and ask them to call an ambulance immediately. If available, immediately take nitroglycerin or aspirin drugs that have been prescribed by a doctor.
You are not advised to go to the hospital by driving your own vehicle unless absolutely necessary, because you could get into an accident.
Those are some first aid heart attacks that you can do. Help should be given as soon as possible. The sooner the patient arrives at the hospital, the greater his life expectancy and the lesser the risk of extensive heart damage.
If you or your family have conditions that increase the risk of having a heart attack, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, make sure the medication that the doctor gives you is taken regularly and check-ups with the doctor are also carried out on time as scheduled.
Ask your doctor about the symptoms and what actions you can take or what medications you can take in the event of a heart attack. Make sure other family or people closest to the sufferer also know about this.