How do you help someone having a heart attack from a first aiders point of veiw?
487409
The signs are pale in the face, pain in the chest and some times shooting down the left arm, sweating, dizziness.\nWhat to do: 1st and most important is to get someone to call 911 if possible send 2 people together so one won't get scared and just leave. If by yourself you go make the call. Lay person down on their back and elevate their feet. Loosen any tight clothing,(tie, belt,) do nothing as long as the person can still breath and has a pulse and stay with person until EMT arrives. If person's heart stops start CPR until EMT shows.
273812
Please NEVER take any chest pain lightly; it could be life-threatening.  That being said, the major signs of heart attack are for men, a crushing pressure on the chest, which may or may not be accompanied by pain radiating down the left arm, jaw, or shoulder.  Also, cardiac arrest can include the victim becoming unresponsive, fainting, stopping normal breathing, and loss of pulse.  \n\nI am not a doctor, but it seems to me as if this may not be heart-related, but once again, I reiterate that I am not a doctor.  I have heard of a condition where your sternum (the bone in the middle of the chest) becomes infected and inflammed, and causes great pain.\n\nRegardless of whether you have insurance or not; you have to get this checked out immediately.  Go to your nearest County Hospital (they usually care for people without insurance and can help you obtain state financial help), or go to the nearest ER, and tell them you are having chest pains.  They will see you right away, and have to treat you, whether you have insurance or not, because chest pains are considered a life-threatening emergency.  And then, when you get that huge bill, just pay whatever you can afford each month, even if it's only $5.00.  They can't report you for non-payment if you're making payments, you are in fact showing good faith.  Just make sure you send a certified letter to billing notifying them of your financial condition and ability to pay only *x* amount of dollars per month.\n\nHope you get help soon.........let us know.
669562
I was a volunteer Firefighter/ETT for awhile and my first medical response was an auto accident victim. I went to the hospital to meet the ambulance and help offload the patient and give the EMTs some support. The ambulance arrived, the rear doors opened, and I was stunned at what I saw. But the training kicked in immediately.\nWe transferred the patient to the emergency room and everyone did everything they could. There was no hope.\nI still remember giving chest compressions and looking unto the patient's brown eyes and praying "God help us help this man".\nThe doctor told me to stop compressions and I felt so helpless. It was over.\nI didn't sleep that night. I still see his eyes.\nYou won't forget what you saw. But your neighbor is gone.\nYou're okay, you're safe. Just cherish and appreciate life.
750087
from where you can take help
672611
Ideally - get medical attention a.s.a.p, even if you have call the emergency doctors now for advise - dont take the risk with chest pains.
1037703
I definately agree with you, they should see their physician. But HOLD ON! before you start going against them, you also have to see the medical insurance is very high, and it is NOT going to STOP! it will geek on going higher. The reason I said this is almost HALF of all the people in America does NOT have Health Insurance. Right there, thats serious. Plus they have to pay certain amount just to get a visit to their clinic(If the have insurance) if they DON'T have insurance, they should go to webmd.com. That site is very good. But yes, i do agree with you on shortnessof breath. that is an exception as well as heart related symptoms. Getting some answers here helps them get some feed back on what are some possible causeof their pain. if it was VERY serious (physiologically) then they wouldn't be able to type their question in the first place, instead they would dial 911. But I applaud you for bringing this question(Yes, it is a serious question).
736629
Chat with your doctors and or hospital.  I go to a free stress class to help with depression, anxiety, and stress.  I have had a heart attack.  Also you might want to contact a threapist for one on one threapy.  I am also happy to be alive and not feeling depressed.
48587
The above answer seems to be way beyond first aid.\n\nFirst aid steps for an arithmia depend on what the patient is experiencing with the arithmia.\n\nShortness of Breath, Dificulty Breathing, Chest Pain, Weakness, fainting.\n   -  activate 911 (or other emergency number)\n   -  Position of comfort - lying or sitting\n   -  await for arival of EMS monitor for signs of shock resp. or cardiac compromise.\n\nNo breathing or No pulse\n\nCALL 911\nSTART CPR
354273
Ask him :)  There's no other way.  What's the worse thing that happens?  He says no, and you have a heart attack?
810362
YES!! thank you...my best friend has panic/anxiety attacks..I dont know how to help her...she is afraid all the time...i want to be able to help  her, I want to know how to deal with her...I have taken her to the hospital countless numbers of times..just because she thinks something is truely wrong with her...she has been having feelings that death would be better than dealing with this problem....I need a support group and she does too!!!
314295
Where I'm from, we have individual medic units for different areas of the county.  When we EMT's have a call that we want medics for (a cardiac, trauma, etc.), we advise our dispatchers, and they call out for the medics.  If the medic unit is available, they come help us out.  If they don't have a unit in the area, you can wait for the next closest unit (which is often about 30 minutes away), or you "scoop and run" and pray like hell that the person doesn't crash in the back of the ambulance!
661218
Well here is what an EMT does. He/she will handle injuries of all types. Kids falling, cuts scrapes, broken bone, sicknesses, & things to this nature. They handle car accidents which can involve multiple types of injuries. They handle heart attacks, and on arrival may find that the person is in fact dead. They handle pregantcies which can include delivery of the baby. They can at times handle drug overdoses. This can and will at times inclcude handling AIDS patients.Some of the above can be very nasty looking. And as far as AIDS patients, they as a rule WILL inform the tech that he/she has AIDS so you will use standard precautions. It does have it rewarss knowing that you saved a life. But there are downsides as well. When someone dies, be it from an accident or from a heart attack. You don't always save someone's life. At times they do die. If what I have just told you does not deter you then I would look into it a bit more. BUT I can not describe to you in detail how nasty it will get at times. But it does. If you think you can handle real nasty type things, blood guts bones sticking out of the flesh go for it. Good Luck.
530851
Make sure he or she is breathing and call 911. If the weather is cold, I would also cover the person.
526954
Red Cross is a good one to contribute to. I helped out doing insurance adjusting when they had the hurricanes down there. We drove from Minnesota to help the best we could and it seemed like there wasn't enough time in the day. I put in 16-20 hour days helping. It was all I could do. Your heart is in the right place. I admire you for that.
678637
Yes, do go to the emergency room if you can drive, or have someone drive you.  Otherwise call 911.  I had a silent heart attack in my 30's, so minor pain could indicate one too.  At the hospital a blood test will reveal certain elevated enzymes if you're having a heart attack.  Don't take any chances.  I felt silly calling 911, but otherwise would have died, because I had to be defibrillated.  Better safe than sorry, so please go!
236322
If you are present when someone faints, check for breathing and a neck pulse. If neither is present, dial 911 for medical help, and then begin cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Don't stop until help arrives. If someone faints, is breathing and has a pulse, leave the person on the ground and elevate both legs. This helps return blood to the heart and brain. If you feel faint, sit down immediately and bend over, or lie down.  http://www.uh.edu/admin/hc/fainting.htm
390015
If the victim was an adult, I would first check the scene for safety.  If the scene appeared safe, I would tap the victim's shoulder and shout "Are you OK?"  If the victim didn't respond, then I would call 911 or ask someone to do it.  I would attend to the victim by first looking, listening, and feeling for breathing.  If the victim is breathing and has signs of circulation than I would put that person in what is called the "recovery position", which is rolling the victim to his side with the top leg bent at the knee and the top arm bent at the elbow with the hand under the head.  Bottom arm and leg are straight.  If there is no sign of breathing and circulation than I would begin appropriate CPR care.  If the victim were an infant or child, I would do the same thing except if I was alone, I would provide 1 minute of care before calling 911.