## Date:

### HEART ATTACKS

*It’s important to* 
*be aware that* 
*symptoms other* 
*than chest pain* 
*may occur.*
!

**Job Name:**

**Supervisor Signature:**

Every single year there are 735,000 Americans who suffer heart attacks according 
to the CDC. 3/4 of them are first time heart attack victims. There is a good chance 
that sometime in your life you will witness someone suffer from a heart attack or 
you yourself will be a victim.

It is important to know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. It is equally 
important to know what to do if someone around you is having a heart attack. 
Recognizing an emergency and getting the individual the proper care quickly can 
mean the difference between life and death.

## Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack

In movies and TV we often see a person turn completely white and begin to clutch 
their chest when they are having a heart attack. While this could be the case in 
real life, it often is not. Many of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack are 
much more subtle. Here are some of the signs the CDC lists on their website:

*ñ* Chest pain or discomfort.

*ñ* Chest pain or discomfort. may occur.

*ñ* Shortness of breath.

*ñ* Upper body pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper 
stomach.

*ñ* Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.

Not all of these have to be present to be a heart attack. Pay attention to your 
body and what it is telling you. If you think you or someone around you is 
displaying heart attack symptoms do not brush them off.

## What to Do If Someone Has a Heart Attack

Call 911. Even if it ends up not being a heart attack it is truly better to be safe than 
sorry. Getting the proper medical attention quickly for a heart attack victim is their 
best chance to live.

*ñ* Try to keep the person calm, and have them sit or lie down.

*ñ* Have the person take an aspirin as long as they are not allergic and are 
conscious to do so.

*ñ* If the person stops breathing, you or someone else who is qualified should 
perform CPR. If you don't know CPR, the 911 operator can assist you until 
the EMS personnel arrive.

Take heart attack symptoms seriously. We know most of the people we work 
with pretty well. If something seems wrong talk to the person or get a supervisor 
involved. Know what your emergency response plan at your worksite for a 
medical emergency like a heart attack. Knowing who to call, what the address of 
the worksite is, and who is CPR trained onsite can save the victim's life.