If someone is having a heart attack, what is there to do in that emergency situation after the EMT is called?

Answer 1

What should I do if I suspect I am having a myocardial infarction?

Call an ambulance or doctor immediately. The earlier the treatment, the better the chance of a good outcome. The following describes a typical course of events that then occurs.

* You will be given a dose of aspirin immediately to reduce the 'stickiness' of the blood. It helps to prevent further blood clotting.
* You will normally be admitted to hospital.
* A strong pain killer given by injection will ease the pain.
* Heart monitoring (ECG) and blood tests are done to confirm an MI, and to rule out other causes of chest pains.
* You will usually be given an injection of a 'clot busting' drug. This dissolves the blood clot. The sooner this is given, the better. The part of the heart muscle starved of blood does not die ('infarct') immediately. If blood flow is restored within a few hours, much of the heart muscle that would have been damaged will survive.
* Injections of heparin are usually given for a few days to help prevent further blood clots.
* Your heart is monitored for a few days to check on the heart rhythm.
* Various tests may be done to look for complications.
* You will be advised to take regular medication from now on. Medication after an MI is discussed more fully in another leaflet. Briefly, the following four drugs are commonly prescribed to prevent a further MI, and to help prevent complications.
o Aspirin - to reduce the 'stickiness' of platelets in the blood which helps to prevent blood clots forming. If you are not be able to take aspirin then an alternative anti-platelet drug such as clopidogrel may be advised.
o A beta-blocker - to slow the heart rate, and to reduce the chance of abnormal heart rhythms developing.
o An ACE inhibitor (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) - especially if you have any heart failure (see below).
o A statin drug to lower the cholesterol level. This helps to prevent the build-up of atheroma.

Many people recover well from an MI and have no complications. Before discharge from hospital it is common for a doctor or nurse to advise you how to reduce any risk factors (see below). This advice aims to reduce your risk of a future MI as much as possible. An exercise test may also be done. Briefly, this helps to tell how badly the coronary arteries are narrowed with atheroma, and whether more complex tests of the heart need to be done.

Note: the common 'clot buster' drug used in the UK is called streptokinase. If you are given this drug you should not be given it again if you have another MI in the future. This is because antibodies develop to it and it will not work well a second time. An alternative 'clot buster' drug should be given if you have another MI in the future.

Emergency angioplasty is used in some cases as an alternative to a 'clot busting' drug in some hospitals. In this procedure a tiny wire with a balloon at the end is put into a large artery in the groin or arm. It is then passed up to the heart and into the blocked section of a coronary artery using special x-ray guidance. The balloon is then blown up inside the blocked part of the artery to open it wide again.

Answer 2

After calling for EMS, make sure the patient is sitting down and try to keep him or her as comfortable as possible. Don't leave the patient alone if possible. Follow the directions given by the 911 dispatcher as much as you can. If the patient isn't breathing and has no pulse, the 911 dispatcher can guide you through performing CPR, if you are comfortable with that.

It's recommended by some sources that you give the patient an aspirin, but you'd want to check with the patient to make sure he or she isn't allergic to aspirin or on blood thinners such as coumadin (warfarin). As a paramedic, I don't give a second dose of aspirin if the patien has already taken aspirin today.

Make sure that EMS can find your house...unlock your front door. It always helps to have a person at the curb to flag down the ambulance as it approaches.

Answer 3

1) check to see if they are conscious and breathing ....loosen collars and belts that could be at all restraining to their body.
2) cover them up to keep the body warm, and elevate their feet, help the blood get back to the heart to beat.
3) if they are unconscious, give them CPR or at least breath for them, making sure t hat you are filling up their lungs and not their belly- make sure the airway is clear.
4) if they are conscious, administer an adult aspirin.. (you should be doing this in the seconds following an attack... seems like a lot but if you are moving with your adrenaline you'll be able to get help. Stay with the person, and if awake, keep them awake.

Answer 4

Give the person an aspirin. Tell them to chew it up and swallow it.

Do NOT give Advil, Motrin or Aleve. Plain old Bayer aspirin is the best.

EMT

Answer 5

Get them some aspirin and have them chew it.

Make them comfortable, make sure you check ABCs:
Airway
Breathing
Circulation

If they are not conscious, turn them onto their left side, crook the right leg and left arm to keep them stable, and again, make sure the airway is clear.

You learn a lot of this stuff if you take a CPR class.

Answer 6

definitely CPR if you dont know how to do it, your local red cross foundation should hold CPR classes twice a year if not try a local hospital. when EMT gets there they will tell you to step away and ask you how long you were doing CPR.

Answer 7

If they are awake have them swallow an aspirin, then have them lay down comfortably and cover them w/a blanket. If they are not conscious start CPR immediately.

Answer 8

Give them an aspirin and stay with them.

Answer 9

nothing unless you are certified in CPR. if your not. dont touch them. ha