St. John Ambulance Wants You to be able to Recognize a Heart Attack When You See One
February 1, 2010 (Toronto, ON) – Heart disease is one of the top killers of Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, in 2005 alone, more than 71,000 Canadians died of major cardiovascular diseases. Chances of survival decrease drastically the longer a person waits to get medical attention. This Heart Month St. John Ambulance wants you to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart attack.
Signs and Symptoms of Angina and a Heart Attack:
- Pain that can be described as heaviness, tightness, squeezing, pressure, crushing, indigestion, aching jaw, sore arms
- Pale skin
- Sweating
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Shock
If you suspect a person is having a heart attack, begin First Aid.
- Get medical help immediately. If you must leave the casualty alone, make sure to place them at rest before you go.
- Place the casualty at rest in a comfortable position; in most cases, the semi-sitting position is best. This will help take stress off the heart
- Make the casualty comfortable. Loosen tight clothing around the neck, chest and waist. Do your best to reassure them and reduce their fear – anxiety can cause more stress on the heart.
- If the casualty has prescribed medication and has asked for your assistance, assist them to take their medication. If they don’t have medication, or the medication does not work after the dose, ask if they are able to take an Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) pill (such as Aspirin) and have them chew one regular strength adult ASA tablet.
- If they should lose consciousness and stop breathing, start CPR.
On average, heart attack casualties take 4½ hours to get to a hospital from the onset of symptoms. The main reason for this delay is that it takes people a long time to accept something serious is wrong. If you suspect a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately. The sooner you get help, the better the chances of survival.
For 125 years, St. John Ambulance has been training over 140,000 Ontarians annually in first aid and other health care related courses and remains dedicated to saving lives at work, home and play. With over 4,000 volunteers contributing over half a million hours of community service a year, St. John Ambulance is an integral part of the community offering such unique and innovative programs as; medical first response, disaster response, car seat clinics, health and safety related youth programs and therapy dog services. As a charitable, non-denominational, humanitarian organization, proceeds from St. John Ambulance’s first aid training and first aid product sales directly support these vital community services programs. For more information on St. John Ambulance training courses and volunteer opportunities or to contact your local branch, visit
www.sja.ca