Heart attack first aid | How to perform First aid for Heart Attack at home | First aid basics lesson-5 | Learn Hutt

Heart attack first aid | How to perform First aid for Heart Attack at home | What to do when someone is having a heart attack | How to perform First aid for Stroke | First aid basics lesson-5 | Learn Hutt

Heart attack:

Heart attack most commonly occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is suddenly obstructed by a clot in one of the coronary arteries. 

Heart attack first aid - Learn Hutt

Recognition:

• Persistent central chest pain, spreading often to the jaw and down the left arm.
• Breathlessness and discomfort high in the abdomen, often feeling similar to 
• Severe indigestion. Sudden faintness or giddiness. 
• Blueness at the lips.
• A rapid, weak or irregular pulse.
• Collapse, often without any warning. 

First Aid:

• Make the casualty as comfortable as possible to ease the strain on his heart. A half - siting position, with the casualty’s head and shoulders well supported and his knees bent, is often best.
• Constantly monitor and record the casualty’s breathing and pulse rates, and be prepared to resuscitate if necessary.
• If the casualty is fully conscious, give him one tablet of ordinary asprin to chew. This thins the blood.

Cardiac arrest: 

Cardiac arrest is the sudden stoppage of the heart. There are many reasons for an arrest including heart attack, severe blood loss, suffocation, electric shock, drug overdose and hypothermia. 

Recognition:

• Absence of pulse.
• Absence of breathing.
  
  

First Aid:

• Commence CPR immediately,
• Seek immediate medical aid.
  
  

Stroke: 

Sudden stoppage of blood to the brain, by a clot or ruptured artery is known as stroke.

Recognition:

• A sudden, severe headache.
• A confused, emotional mental state that could be mistaken for drunkenness. 
• Sudden or gradual loss of consciousness. 
• Signs of weakness or paralysis possibly on one side of the body, such as a drooping, dribbling mouth; slurred speech; loss of power or movement in the limbs; pupils of unequal size; loss of bladder or bowl control. 

First Aid:

For an unconscious casualty:

• Open the airway, check breathing and pulse and be prepared to resuscitate if necessary.
• Monitor and record breathing, pulse and level of response every 10 minutes. 
• Loosen any clothing that might impede the casualty’s breathing. 

For a conscious casualty:

• Lay the casualty down with the head and shoulders slightly raised and supported.
• Incline the head to one side, and place a towel or cloth on the shoulder to absorb any dribbling. Do not give the casualty any thing to eat or drink.

Shock: 

The circulatory system distributes blood round the body, so that oxygen and nutrients can pass through and perfuse the tissues. When this system fails circulatory shock will develop. Shock may also occur if the blood supply to the body’s vital organs is reduced through blood loss or loss of other bodily fluids through burns, severe diarrhoea or vomiting. 

Recognition:

Initially: A rapid pulse, pale, grey blue skin, especially inside the lips. A fingernail or earlobe if pressed will not regain its colour immediately.
- Sweating and cold, clammy skin.

As shock develops: Weakness and giddiness, nausea and possibly vomiting, thrust, rapid / shallow breathing and a weak thready pulse. When the pulse at the wrist disappears about 1/2 the blood volume would have been lost.
As the brain’s oxygen supply weakens: The casualty may become restless, anxious and even aggressive. Casualty may yawn and gasp for air. The casualty becomes unconscious and finally the heart will stop.

In this First Aid article series up to now, we have learnt Definition, Aims andScope of First Aid, Action in an Emergency, Air way blockage (choking) Internal Bleeding and External Bleeding.

Follow Us :

Follow us on Telegram for Mechanical Engineering Job Notifications:
 https://t.me/Mechanicalfresherjobs (or search on Telegram with @Mechanicalfresherjobs).

Follow us on Facebook.

Subscribe our Youtube Channel: Learn Hut