· Always call 911 first (tell them someone may be having a heart attack or a stroke)
· Put 2 full strength aspirin under the person’s tongue (acts as a blood thinner and prevents the clot causing the heart attack or stroke from progressing)
· The patient will be taken to the closest hospital that can give the new “clot buster” drugs (not a small community hospital)
· You (or your loved one) may be given heparin in the ambulance on the way to the hospital (strong blood thinner)
· The longer your brain (stroke) or heart muscle (heart attack) is without oxygen the higher the risk of permanent serious damage
· You will not have time to change to the “right” hospital
· Most states have designated “heart attack and stroke” hospitals that can do the necessary tests and then administer the life saving clot buster drugs which the emergency responders will be aware of when they come to transport you
· Take Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) from your local Red Cross or hospital, especially if someone in your family has already had a previous heart attack or stroke
· Always start ACLS and start the AED (if available) while awaiting the emergency responders if someone is unconscious or not breathing
· If someone in your family has had a previous heart attack, consider purchasing an automated external defibrillator (AED) and taking the ACLS course from the Red Cross
· AEDs can be lifesaving while awaiting the arrival of emergency responders and give “automatic” instructions on whether a “shock” is needed or not
· Training in the use of AEDs are given in ACLS courses and AEDs are available in most large public places (airports, malls, banks) and in emergencies can be used without ACLS training
· Twenty-five percent of heart attack victims die before the arrival of emergency responders
· See Red Cross AED video (1)
Reference