Common Mistakes to Avoid During Heart Attack Emergencies
⏱️ 1 min read
📚 Chapter 17 of 87
Understanding what NOT to do can be as important as knowing the correct actions. These mistakes can cost precious time or worsen outcomes.
Critical Errors:
1. "Wait and See" Approach
- Average person waits 2-3 hours before calling for help - Heart muscle dies progressively during this time - Early treatment can stop or reverse damage - Better to be wrong than dead2. Driving to Hospital
- Dangerous if symptoms worsen while driving - No access to emergency treatment en route - Ambulances have lifesaving equipment - EMTs can begin treatment immediately - Ambulances can bypass ER waiting rooms3. Taking Someone Else's Medications
- Never give prescription meds not prescribed to patient - Exception: Aspirin (if not allergic) - Wrong medications can worsen situation - Wait for EMTs to administer drugs4. Ignoring "Mild" Symptoms
- Not all heart attacks have severe pain - Women especially have subtle symptoms - "Silent" heart attacks still cause damage - Any suspicious symptoms warrant evaluationDO vs. DON'T Comparison List:
| DO | DON'T | |---|---| | Call 911 immediately | Wait to see if it gets better | | Give aspirin if not allergic | Give other people's heart medications | | Keep person calm and still | Let them walk around or exert themselves | | Stay with them constantly | Leave them alone to rest | | Begin CPR if unconscious | Delay CPR to call family | | Use AED if available | Be afraid to use AED | | Note time symptoms started | Drive them to hospital yourself | | Follow 911 operator instructions | Hang up to call family |