Keep This Heart Pumping
June 11, 2020 at 11:36 AM
There are many New Zealanders living with underlying heart conditions and living with permanent disability because of the lack of awareness of heart attack warning signs and not knowing when to seek medical attention.
If you, or even someone you know has experienced a heart attack, this doesn’t mean they are safe from having another one, and symptoms may not be the same as the last.
Remember Minutes Matter, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with signs and symptoms and knowing when to seek urgent medical attention.
We at Medic First Aid we want to teach you how to recognise and attend to someone who may be experiencing a heart attack right in front of you. We want you to be confident enough to be able to help that person and to perform CPR if needed.
If you click here this will take you to Medic First Aid’s BasicPlus First Aid course where we can teach you to attend to someone who may be experiencing a cardiac event right in front of you.
What can a heart attack feel like?
Below we will give you an oversight on what someone may look like who could be experiencing a cardiac event.
1st Remember this may not be as dramatic as you may think, and the below symptoms could be a sign that someone is having a heart attack:
|
If they are experiencing: |
In any of the below areas: |
They may also be experiencing |
|
- heaviness |
- arm - chest - shoulder - jaw - back |
- shortness of breath - fatigue - nausea - dizziness
|
2nd If any of the above symptoms are present have the person immediately stop what they are doing and get to a position where they can rest for 10 minutes.
If the person has medication such as angina spay, have them take this first and wait 5 minutes, if the symptoms do not pass, take another dose, and wait another 5 minutes. If the person is STILL having symptoms call 111 and ask for an ambulance
3rd If the above symptoms don’t’ go away call 111 and ask for an ambulance.
CPR and what happen if a person becomes unresponsive?
If a person becomes unresponsive before emergency services arrive, you may need to perform CPR.
CPR is an important step in keeping the heart pumping blood to the brain until emergency services arrive and could be the reason someone survives and without permanent disability.
Medic First Aid have a range of difference courses for a number of different levels of First Aid treatment. But just having your Medic First Aid Online E Certificate is the first step in being able to provide CPR. You can then upgrade this e- certificate by attending one of our practical skills sessions.
If you would like to take a look at the other courses we have to offer take a look at Medic First Aid “Our Courses” by clicking the link below
https://www.medicfirstaid.co.nz/our-courses/
Blog source references:
New Zealand Heart Foundation
https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/your-heart/heart-attack-warning-signs
