What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

[xtraham]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

CPR has changed as of January 2007 KK, hope your up to date.

EMT or not, coughing hard while choking or experiencing a heart attack can save a person's life by opening up the airway and getting oxygen to the blood and to vital organs.

Thanks for your credentials although not necessary.

as I value everything that emt's do, I have to take CPR and first aid to keep my captain's license current,
every time I take a class it has changed, breaths, compressions whatever they change it almost every time

 

[LadyFish]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Unlike others, I didn't get my information off the internet.

This is only for someone who is alone, without immediate medical help, and AED or another person to do CPR.

Of course the first thing to do in this situation is call 911.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

X, right now its 30 compressions to every two rescue breaths for infant, child and adult. You have to know this in order to get re-certified, among a few other changes that took place this year.

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

so...do you still love me then 8)

 

[xtraham]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

mrs LF what is AED ? I forgot
is that a defribulator (sp) ?

 

[LadyFish]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

AED stand for Automated External Defibulator.

I wasn't getting nasty, I take this stuff very seriously.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Great info Ladyfish!!! It's people like you we need more of. Keep up the good work!!! 8)

 

[Laddies]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Thanks for takeing the time for the thread LF

 

[heycods]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

That about covers that, Except JB said they hurt! That is the understatement of the year!:'(

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Thanks LF! JR8)8)

 

[OBJ]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Well when my Dad had his "big one" back in 98', the only thing he complained about was not being able to breath. When I took his pulse, it was jumping all over the place. Nitro's didn't help. So I packed his butt up and hauled him over to the hospital.....we were on a fishing trip at the time...500 miles away from home.

As LF said, there different. Some only feel pressure in the chest. Some do have pain. BUT ALWAYS, if in doubt.....always seek medical attention.

 

[DJ]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

I can't wait for spring, for the rest of you all. I'm in AZ, we have spring all year, until the oven gets turned on.:/ 8)

Anyway. LF is correct in bringing this to all of our attention.

Many attack victims could be saved if there were more education on the subject.

The real problem is that many good people do NOTHING because they are afraid, don't know waht to do, or they are just uncaring..

If you have never attended a CPR class-do it. In most cases it's free and your employer may offer them.

A lot of good points have been discussed here. With this information, we can all be aware of the signs and what to do if you are in a situation where help is needed. We have to be careful here. There are posters that are far more qualified than I am. We have to know our limitations as to our "reasonable" knowledge. With education and certification comes responsibility.

Personally. I hold a Red Cross CPR card. I know what I know and will administer that knowledge, in an emergency.

Going above and beyond that, is a judgement call, depending on the situation. We have to be aware of that line.

With all that said, I've learned some things.

Let's keep it civil and non-confrontational from here on out.

Agreed?

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

DWJ,

You make a very valid point

We have to know our limitations as to our "reasonable"

performing ABOVE your level of training could lead you to lawsuits and criminal charges. If you're CPR "certified" only do what you have training to do..go above that level and you could be in trouble. It's sad in these days but people are sue happy! there has been a lot of good points....and I hope the main point is for more people to take CPR classes.....anything is better than nothing. Our company offers CPR classes to employees and spouses - I used to teach these and a lot of other employers do too! take them up.....it will be the best 4-6 hours you could do!

and I won't get confrontational with LF....I know her and would not want to really get on her bad side!

plus, I'd never be able to invite her and Mr. LF to dinner again 8)

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

"Cough" CPR while unlikely to save your life, can keep you awake and alert for a VERY short time. SUNY Stony Brook did a study on this very thing back in the '80s. It was done in the cardiac catheterization lab which is a controlled environment where cardiac arrest is not an uncommon "side effect" of the procedure. The patient's heart rhythm is monitored through the procedure and when a lethal rhythm was noticed, (bells, whistles, alarms) the patient was instructed to start coughing. Most lost consciousness within 10 seconds. No one was able to remain conscious longer than 30 seconds. And this was a controlled environment with medical professionals at your side.

Your best bet, if you feel yourself passing out after experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, is to hit yourself in the chest very hard with your fist. It's called a precordial thump and it's what paramedics would do if they didn't have a defibrillator available. Likewise it could save a loved one's life if you witness the arrest. The jolt of the heart being hit rapidly depolorizes it and "resets" it in theory. People who fibrillate after a heart attack will sometimes "convert" when they fall to the ground for the same reason, saving their own lives.

 

[Parrott_head]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Lots of information here that I hope I will never need but If I do I'm coughing like heck while I slug myself in the chest.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

LF, Thank you for this most informative posting, it has been a very long time since we've had a subject that affects us, our family and friends in such an indiscriminate manner.

 

[roscoe]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

automatic electric defibrillator

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Good informative post.

 

[Camp180]

Re: What to do if you are alone and having a heart attack

Automatic External Defibulator.
A E D

An awesome piece of equipment, you do need to be trained. It is really easy!