What to do if someone is having a heart attack

Dawn Kimura, RN

Prisma Health Heart Hospital

It’s a scenario no one wants to consider. What would you do if someone had a heart attack in front of you?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, which means many people are at great risk for having a heart attack. Dawn Kimura, RN, explained how to know if someone is having a heart attack and the steps to take to help them.

How do you know if someone is having a heart attack?

Kimura said it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. “We all know the classic sign of clenching your chest when there’s chest pain, but not everyone who’s having a heart attack will have those classic symptoms,” she said. “Women especially tend to present differently than men during a heart attack.”

Other common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Fatigue.
• Anxiety or a feeling of impending doom.
• Chest pressure, like an elephant is sitting on your chest.
• Difficulty breathing.
• A feeling of fullness (not related to eating) while you’re at rest.
• Pain in your back, usually mid-back between the shoulder blades, that’s constant and not related to exercise or activity.
• Pain that travels down one or both arms.

Any of those symptoms, or cluster of symptoms, can indicate a heart attack. Symptoms can start days or even weeks before the actual event.

What to do if someone is having a heart attack

If you suspect someone is having a heart attack and they collapse in front of you, Kimura said to follow these steps.

First, dial 911. Do not drive someone to an emergency room. It’s better to call 911 because first responders have lifesaving medication and technology that can help slow the progression of a heart attack.

While you’re waiting for first responders to arrive, do the following.

• Ask the person if they’re okay.
• If they’re not awake, look and listen for breathing. You should see their chest rise and fall.
• Check for a pulse.
• If they’re not breathing and there’s no pulse, immediately begin hands-only CPR (only appropriate for adults and teens).
• Ask someone to look for an automated external defibrillator, or AED. An AED is an important lifesaving tool that can be found in many places, including airports, parks, recreation centers, stadiums, places of worship and shopping centers.

How to do hands-only CPR

• Place the heel of one hand in the center of the person’s chest with your other hand on top and interlace your fingers.
• Push hard – about an inch to two-inch depth – and fast – about 100 beats per minute. Follow the same tempo as the song “Staying Alive.”  

You can find a helpful video here.

How to use an AED

AEDs are universal in how they work and can be used on adults and children. This is how you use an AED:

• Turn the machine on and follow the voice prompts.
• The AED should include pictures of how to place the pads on a bare chest. Remove the person’s clothing to expose the chest, make sure the skin is dry and attach the pads.
• Place one pad on the upper right side of the chest and the other on the lower left side of the chest, a few inches below the left armpit.
• Let the AED analyze the heart’s rhythm. Make sure no one is touching the person and say “CLEAR!” in a loud voice.
• Push the shock button to deliver the shock.
• Immediately begin compressions again. It’s important to not delay. The only time you should stop compressions is for the machine to analyze the rhythm. Continue compressions until help arrives.

“Learning these steps and becoming an active bystander when someone is having a heart attack can mean the difference between life and death,” Kimura said.