What mechanisms do you perform and stuff like that. The reason for my question is that a teacher had a heart attakc in front of us in class a few weeks ago.
2007-07-04 15:47:22 · 17 answers · asked by acer_junior 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
Call 911 if you know how to start CPR then start CPR. Never panic in those types of situations I know it's hard not t panic but always try to stay calm.
2007-07-05 03:45:50 · answer #1 · answered by **Anti-PeTA** 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, you already know to call emergency services. The most important thing is to stay on the phone with the 911 operator. This person will be asking you questions and your answers will help him/her with instructions for you on what to do. You need to stay on the phone until you are told to hang up. Do exactly as you are instructed to do. Answer all questions accurately and to the best of your knowledge. If you don't know the answer to a question, then say you don't know. Never make an assumption.
If a person is still breathing and still has a pulse, CPR is not necessary. If the person does stop breathing and/or goes into arrest, you will need to either perform CPR yourself or find someone who knows what to do. However, if you know the basics, remember that some CPR is better than no CPR. EMTs will take over once they arrive. You will have to stay with the person and keep them under close observation while you await the arrival of EMS, constantly checking their breathing and pulse.
As for giving someone an aspirin...that's debatable. If a person is having symptoms of a heart attack, then yes, it would be okay to give the person one (it should be chewed up and swallowed). At the same time, if a person is having symptoms of a stroke, then an aspirin could do more damage because you don't know what type of stroke it may be. A CPR course can help explain the differences between a heart attack and stroke.
If your CPR skills are out of date, sign up for and take a class. You can do this through either the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. I recommend that you take a course that instructs on use of an AED (automatic external defibrillator). AEDs are popping up everywhere now and everyone should know how to use one. They look intimidating but they are actually quite easy to use. An AED will actually talk to you and tell you what to do. Don't let it scare you.
I hope this helps you out.
EMT
Let me add this quickly: if a person is having a stroke, you cannot tell what kind of stroke it is out in the field. A CT or MRI is needed to confirm this. If a person has a hemorrhagic stroke (bleed in the brain), giving such person as aspirin can kill them. If a person is having a thrombolytic stroke (blood clot in the brain), an aspirin can help. Here's one more important factor regarding strokes...there is a 3 HOUR WINDOW FROM THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS as to when the stroke can be effectively treated. Once that 3 hour window is gone and treatment has not yet been started, the effects of a stroke are usually irreversible.
EMT
2007-07-05 03:29:16 · answer #2 · answered by emt_me911 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-17 06:13:47 · answer #3 · answered by Meredith 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-18 05:50:52 · answer #4 · answered by Gregg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mother had her first heart attack in front of me in 1976. Give nitroglycerin tablets (if available) under tongue. If not, give an Aspirin immediately and call 911! Don't wait or hesitate. The longer they wait the more heart muscle is damaged. If they are in cardiac arrest, call 911 and follow CPR instructions as they give them to you.
My mom just laid on the couch, talking, did not lose consciousness and waited for 3 hrs., she refused 911 and finally went when my Aunt came home. I was 15 and would never go against her wishes, she was very strict, excitable and I didn't want her to get worse. Now I wish that I had gone ahead and called 911. She died 9 months later of a massive heart attack while dancing at a Moose Lodge. Do not listen to the person, act on your own instincts. Giving Aspirin is the first thing most clinics do when they have a patient going into a heart attack.
2007-07-04 15:57:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
with a heart attack 911 is always called first, administer an aspirin because that is a very good blood thinner that can help with the myocardial infarction (heart attack). You would want to keep track of his/her pulse (right under the jaw bone on the neck) and make sure that they're still breathing. CPR or rescue breathing can be administered if necessary. For a stroke the person normally has one side of the body that starts to lose feeling and goes numb. If someone is acting out of character and it looks as if half of their face is slouching then ask them to smile...if the one side droops you need medical attention immediately. TIme lost during a stroke is brain lost!!! You can give them an aspirin as well if they are concious enough to chew it up. A stroke is caused by normally a blood clot in the brain...if they are on the ground you want to lay them on their side that is affected or drooping....let me remind you...911 should ALWAYS be contacted immediately in both of these cases...
2007-07-04 17:09:01 · answer #6 · answered by Stacie 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First Call 911! If it is a heart attack the pt will tell you he/she has chest pain or he will grip his chest. If it is a stroke they will say they have a really bad headache, slurring of the speech, paralysis of the arm. You can't do much for a stroke on the field you have to wait for the ambulance. If it is chest pain ask the person if he can take aspirin and give them 325 mg and make sure they chew it not swallow it. Then wait patiently for the ambulance.
2007-07-04 16:02:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are trained in CPR you can administer it if someone is not breathing and whose heart has stopped. Sometimes a heart attack will cause pain in the chest, shoulder and or arm or feel like heart burn. The person's heart may not stop beating but will beat erratically. I.
For a stroke, the person may have a weakness in limb(s) or face or start slurring words and not pass out. In either case, get the person to a comfortable position and call for immediate medical help.
2007-07-04 15:56:14 · answer #8 · answered by knittinmama 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There really is not much more you can do. The only other thing you can do is to try to make the person more comfortable until help arrives. Often, a person having a heart attack will get hot and start sweating. You can maybe try to do something to help keep that person cool. You can also keep telling the person that they will be ok and that help is on the way.
2007-07-05 01:34:21 · answer #9 · answered by xox_bass_player_xox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give them an aspirin. NOT tylenol or Advil, but a common aspirin. Takning oen of thsoe in the first hour or so can dramatically improve survivability AND reduce the likelyhood and scope of permanent damage.
I do not know how this works, but I have been told by doctors and EMS workers that it is true.
2007-07-04 15:58:38 · answer #10 · answered by Jeff Engr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋