FACT SHEET

Heart Related

Angina

Sign & Symptoms

Pain or discomfort in centre of chest
Pain radiating to neck and arms
Onset with exercise or emotional stress
Pain relieved by rest or medication

Heart Attack

Signs & symptoms similar to angina, and may include:

Severe, vice-like chest pain
Anxiety / confusion
Shortness of breath
Nausea / vomiting
Irregular pulse
Sometimes immediate collapse

Chest Pain or discomfort

Warning: Treat situation as life-threatening.

1.	Advise casualty to rest:
	a.	Advise casualty to stop any activity, and sit or lie down and rest

2.	Casualty to take medication:
	a.	If casualty has medication for angina, get it and assist casualty in taking it.

3.	Seek urgent medical attention:
	a.	If unconscious follow DRABCD, call 000 for an ambulance immediately
	b.	do not drive casualty to hospital, in case of cardiac arrest

4.	Give Aspirin:
	a.	give 300mg (one tablet) of aspirin in water
	b.	do not give aspirin to those allergic to it, to asthmatics or those on anti-coagulant medication (e.g warfarin).

5.	Monitor vital signs:
	a.	Monitor breathing, consciousness, skin colour
	b.	be prepared to give CPR

In a casualty suffering of sudden cardiac arrest, the electrical signals cause the heartbeat to become chaotic and the heart stops pumping blood. The electrical shock given by a defibrillator stops this chaotic electrical activity and often then allows the heart to start beating normally again.

Defibrillation

A automatic external defibrillator can be safely used on a casualty with cardiac arrest. However, good CPR is still essential before defibrillation to improve the likely outcome for the casualty.

1. Follow DRABCD

2. if casualty is unconscious, non-responsive and not breathing, call for help and ask someone to get the defibrillator

3. Commence CPR and continue until defibrillator arrives

4. expose the casualty's chest and follow the voice prompts

5. Attach adhesive pads as shown on the defibrillator.

Ask everyone to stand clear, do not touch the casualty while the defibrillator is analyzing — follow the voice prompts.

If machine indicates to press the shock button — make sure everyone is clear.

If the heart re-starts, the casualty may start to regain some colour — they may start to breathe.

Monitor breathing. Use oxygen if available and continue until help arrives.

WARNING:

Do not use a defibrillator:

On a person under 12 years of age unless using paediatric pads
In a moving vehicle

Before defibrillation — move:

Casualty if touching metal fixture or lying in water
Oxygen away from casualty
Mobile phones/two-way radios 2 metres away.

A 4 hour automatic external defibrillation course is recommended to ensure the user has the confidence and competence to use a defibrillator.