A heart attack is a serious medical condition; it is caused by a blockage, often a blood clot in the coronary artery leading to the heart. As a result of the blockage, the heart no longer gets the blood and oxygen that it needs and the result is chest pain, heart injury and in many cases; death.
These are the symptoms of a heart attack, but there is also cardiac arrest which is not caused by blockage but it is a condition which is the result of erratic heart rhythm, either too fast or too slow. These two conditions are different and as such it needs to be determined what the issue is before the correct action can be taken.
Regardless of what the cause is; the most important thing that can be done for the victim is for you or someone nearby contact rapid response medical personnel. Unless there is absolutely no alternative, you should wait for them rather than transport the victim yourself. Emergency medical personnel have equipment on their vehicles such as Medtronic Physio-Control AEDs which allows them to perform treatment prior to arriving at the hospital.
If the victim is conscious the cause is a heart attack, in most cases if the victim is unconscious and shows no sign of a pulse, the cause is cardiac arrest. For the victim of a heart attack, the issue is comfort; try to move the victim into a comfortable position if he is conscious and onto the back if not as you may be called upon to administer CPR. Blood clotting can be reduced if you can get the conscious heart attack victim to take an aspirin, chew it and swallow it.
If the emergency has taken place in an area where many people normally would gather there is a very good chance that you will find Medtronic Physio-Control AEDs strategically positioned. The AED gives the victim an electrical shock which stops the hearts erratic movements, allowing the body’s pacemaker to regain control. Most people are very uncomfortable when asked to operate a piece of equipment such as this but the manufacturers have developed these devices so that a layman can operate them successfully.
