Heart Attacks - Strokes - Cardiac Arrest

Just a small bit of info on HEART ATTACKS,
STROKES and CARDIAC ARREST
HEART

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center
of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that
goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable
pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both
arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Short of breath
with or without chest discomfort.

Other Discomforts
may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or
lightheadedness.Some heart attacks are sudden and intense —

the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts
what's happening. But most heart attacks start
slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people
affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long
before getting help.

Immediately call 9-1-1 or your emergency response
number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life
support) can be sent for you. As with men, women's
most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or
discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than
men to experience some of the other common symptoms,
particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and
back or jaw pain.

Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you're not sure
it's a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about
your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives
— maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to
call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving
 treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin
 treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if
someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained
 to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest
 pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at
the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the
emergency room.

STROKE

NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS OF THE FACE, ARM OR
LEG, ESPECIALLY ON ONE SIDE OF THE BODY
CONFUSION, TROUBLE SPEAKING OR UNDERSTANDING

- TROUBLE SEEING IN ONE OR BOTH EYES
- TROUBLE WALKING, DIZZINESS, LOSS OF BALANCE
OR COORDINATION
- SEVERE HEADACHE WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE

.Immediately call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number so
an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for
you. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms
appeared. It's very important to take immediate action. If given
within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug
called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term
disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-
approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours
of stroke symptom onset.


A TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a "warning stroke" or
"mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting
damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs may reduce your risk of
a major stroke. The usual TIA symptoms are the same as those
of stroke, only temporary. The short duration of these symptoms
and lack of permanent brain injury is the main difference between
TIA and stroke.

CARDAIC ARREST
No response to tapping on shoulders
The victim does not take a normal breath when you tilt the head
up and check for at least five seconds.


If these signs of cardiac arrest are present, tell someone to
call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number and get
an AED (if one is available) and you begin CPR immediately.



If you are alone with an adult who has these signs of cardiac arrest,
call 9-1-1 and get an AED (if one is available) before you begin CPR.

Use an AED as soon as it arrives.

the web site to go to find out more important information is:
http://www.heart.org/
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION