Immediate First Aid for Heart Attack (by one who's been there.)

Life's experience ^ | July 15, 2002 | basil

[eshu]

I'll surely remember that aspirin trick!

Yeah, me too.... thanks for the advice and CONGRATULATIONS on surviving!!!!!!!

[Militiaman7]

Glad you are back to FR, Prayers and continued recovery.

Eagles UP!

Militiaman7

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

I am so glad you are alive and well! You had all of use worried! But then nobody, NOBODY can put down a GUTSY LADY!

[basil]

Now that's funny! I'll havs to use that!

[tarawa]

I see the nurses wasted no time booting you out today. Glad to see that you're back on here with us.

[technochick99]

bump

[The Shadow Knows]

So glad to hear you are doing well. Last year my Mom was having chest pains. She is a diabetic and is taking an aspirin substitute. But when she had the chest pains, the first thing I did was give her an aspirin. They kept her over night at the hospital hooked up to machines. She was able to leave in two days and is doing fine. She is 80.

[Hardy Harhar]

Superb post!

I bet you saved somebody's life with it.

[technochick99]

I see the nurses wasted no time booting you out today

She was probably preaching the value of guns and they finally got tired of hearing it!

[FreeperinRATcage]

I'm very glad you came thrugh this OK. As a paramedic, may I amend your advice just a bit?

If you suspect you are having a heart attack, CALL 911 and then take one aspirin immediately.

The reason for the aspirin? It inhibits clotting, which may help prevent the heart attack from extending. Calling 911 should still be the priority, however.

In a worse case event of cardiac arrest, immediate CPR early defibrillation are the keys to survival. Unless you have a defibrillator nearby, only EMS can provide the care needed.

If you work or frequent an area that has a Semi Automatic External Defibrillator (SAED), learn how it operates so you can put it in service as soon as possible in an emergency. Learn CPR if you can. These 2 items are still the best means of saving a life in a cardia emergency.

[bvw]

Hooray for you and that little white pill of a willow-bark derivative.

[basil]

About that Prempro---four days before my attack, I had read the new info re prempro, and quit using it!!! What do you suppose that proves?

[Eastbound]

Thanks for posting one of the most freepinist stories I've seen here, basil. I sometimes feel like I need something and will take note. I'm at that age -- or well beyond it. Welcome back and hope you are fully recovered.

Best wishes -- Dave

[Bruce Kurtz]

God bless you and may you have a speedy recovery. Tomorrow I will buy some aspirin.

Bruce Kurtz

[JudyB1938]

Thanks for sharing the info, basil. You just very well may have saved several lives in the future.

We thank Jesus that you made it through. But I'm willing to venture that your sense of humor had almost as much to do with it as that aspirin. :0)

God Bless and Take Care.

[basil]

Thanks for your added advice.

I can't say enough about the four guys who were in that ambulance with me. They were so professional, and gave me confidence just by the way they acted. I've got to find out who they were and do something nice for them.

[austingirl]

So good to see you posting. Thanks for the advice about the aspirin. Where's the wedding and does your dress match the shiner?

[aristeides]

And those who are in danger of a heart attack should take an aspirin a day prophylactically. Red wine can't hurt either!

[deport]

Basil, thank the Lord our God that you are with us again today.... It was quite an experience I'm sure. I had a lot of the same experiences you've have minus the passing out and full cardiac arrest.... Keep your Nitro's handy at all times now.

You didn't say but since you mentioned the Cardiac Catherization Lab I'm assuming you had some stents inserted to open up a blockage? Correct? Or maybe they just were doing the scope to look at the arteries.

Take care of yourself now and even though you feel fine there is process to getting back up to full speed. It takes some time so don't rush it. If they will let you, go to the Cardiac Rehab if they have one available. Those nurses really know their stuff and will have you on the treadmills, bikes, rowers, etc. and most likely you'll feel much stronger than before your attack when you complete the rehab cycle.

Again good luck..... And yes the aspirin do work. In fact I had been taking an 81 gr baby aspirin for a few years when I had my attack. I think that alone helped a bunch and now take a 325 everyday as I'm sure you will.....

Can't keep a Buffalo down.....

[Khurkris]

May The Lord Bless You and Yours. This is one of the funniest and most informative 1st person narratives I have ever read. God Bless Ya.