It’s February, which means it’s National Heart Month. And we’ve got a question for you. Would you know what to do if someone was having a heart attack? Tim Connor did, which is why his colleague Tony Wong is still alive and well today.
Tim works for a tea company in Hampshire along with around 80 other people.
Last year Tim was sitting in his office when he was asked to check on Tony. Feeling unwell, Tony had taken himself off to a quiet meeting room to rest when a colleague found him. Something was seriously wrong.
When Tim walked into the room, he saw Tony sitting in a chair, looking poorly and breathing very rapidly. He suspected that Tony was having a heart attack.
Tony was in his fifties and generally a healthy man; he cycled to work every day and had done a couple of charity runs. But the symptoms of a heart attack were there.
“He was sweating and struggling to breathe and taking very rapid, shallow breaths,” Tim said.
“He was also complaining of chest pains, so I asked my colleague to call for an ambulance.”
While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Tim made sure that Tony continued to sit in a comfortable position in the chair and tried to put him at ease.
“As Tony felt very anxious, I knew that I needed to remain calm in order to help reassure him,” Tim said.
“I told him that help was on its way and that he might feel better if he tried taking steady breaths.”
For peace of mind, Tim also asked his colleague to locate the automated external defibrillator (AED), just in case Tony became unresponsive and stopped breathing. Thankfully he didn’t need to use it.
Following advice from the emergency call handler on the other end of the phone, a colleague offered Tony an aspirin tablet to chew slowly. This can help to thin the blood and may help someone who is having a heart attack.
Tim continued to monitor and reassure Tony until the first-response paramedic arrived ahead of the ambulance. They confirmed Tony was having a heart attack.
Soon the ambulance arrived and Tony was then taken to hospital where he had emergency surgery on his heart.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, it wasn’t long until Tony was recuperating at home. He is now fully recovered and back to cycling to work each day. Tim’s quick actions saved Tony’s life.
Tim learnt first aid with the British Red Cross. And since doing so, he’s helped people both inside and outside of work with minor cuts, bruises and bangs over the years – some of which were while he was a scuba diving instructor.
“I attend regular first aid courses with the Red Cross and I am an appointed first aider within my organisation,” he said.
“Without the first aid skills I learnt, I don’t know if I would have been so level headed when this happened.”
First aid for a heart attack
If a friend or colleague is having a heart attack, they may have persistent, vice-like chest pain, which may spread to their arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach.
Steps to take:
- Call 999 immediately or get someone else to do it.
- Make sure they are in a position that is comfortable for them (e.g. sit them on the floor, leaning against a wall or chair).
- Give them constant reassurance while waiting for the ambulance.
You can offer the person an aspirin tablet to chew slowly, as this will help thin their blood.
Learn and share
Last year, a study commissioned by the Red Cross and conducted by the University of Manchester found that up to 59 per cent of deaths from injury may have been prevented had first aid been carried out before the arrival of the emergency medical services.
As Tim has proved, simple actions save lives. That’s why we’ve launched our learn and share initiative, asking you to make a pledge to learn one simple first aid skill and share it with others.
Who knows, you could help save a life – like Tim.
- Find out more about learn and share
- Learn first aid online
- Book a course
Feb 22, 2017 @ 12:03:02
Surely you have to check if someone is allergic to Aspirin first before giving them one to chew on.
Feb 24, 2017 @ 14:35:52
Hi David
Thanks for your message. We recommend offering an aspirin tablet to someone who is having a heart attack. If they are allergic to aspirin they will know it and let you know.
Kind regards,
Laura
Mar 06, 2017 @ 10:32:39
If the patient is in possession of medication for a heart problem, would you still offer an aspirin?
Mar 15, 2017 @ 10:16:53
Hi Nigel
Thanks for your comment. Yes you can still offer them an aspirin to chew. Aspirin will help to thin their blood. If there is a reason why they shouldn’t take aspirin, they will know it and let you know.
Kind regards,
Laura
May 15, 2017 @ 13:22:38
I am first aid trained and know I can offer a person suspected to be having a heart attack an aspirin, however, can I let my non-first aid trained colleagues know where they pack of aspirin is kept so that someone else can do this if I was not around and somebody had a heart attack?
May 17, 2017 @ 12:57:49
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your comment. It is a good idea to share your first aid knowledge with others and let them know the location of medical equipment or supplies which can help in a first aid emergency. This means more people can step up to help someone in an emergency. In a workplace environment there are regulations around who is allowed to administer medications. In this specific case it would be that only those with a first aid at work qualification would be able to administer the aspirin.
Kind regards,
Laura
Jul 24, 2018 @ 14:56:01
Can somebody please explain to me either it is possible to get the treatment of Heart Attack using Stem Cell? Because Stem Cell treatment is new and unique and don’t have any side effects. So can someone should do try?
Apr 28, 2020 @ 19:17:59
If someone already takes Aspirin/meds from a previous heart attack/ other medical conditions can they still be given an additional aspirin in this situation?
May 12, 2020 @ 10:56:46
Thank you for your question, Stacey. Yes, if is somebody taking aspirin for another condition, you can give aspirin again if you suspect a heart attack. If they have a specific reason why they should not take aspirin, they will let you know.
Jul 27, 2020 @ 07:45:27
Thanks for sharing this informative blog, Keep it up.
Jul 27, 2020 @ 07:50:05
Thanks for sharing this informative blog. Keep up the goog work.