Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack. Not the same.
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack? Sometimes the two terms are used as one. Yes, they can seem the same, but what they are, medically, is quite different.
It is wonderful that more and more people are getting trained how to give care in an emergency situation. You ARE most likely to give care to someone you love who is choking or unconscious.
Unconsciousness can occur with people suffering a car accident, had a breathing emergency that escalated, had a diabetes incident – or is having a heart attack. Except, wait… OR is it a cardiac arrest?
They’re not the same.
A heart attack is a circulation problem. Blood is not flowing well due to clogging of the arteries. But the heart can continue to pump, though it’s in trouble.
A cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. The heart is not pumping correctly. It stops pumping. The deadly rhythm is, most often, “fibrillation”. Thus, what is needed is de-fibrillation – the equipment that delivers a large electrical charge to the heart.
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack.
Visit this site that explains the difference:
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
I have been teaching CPR, First Aid and youth Babysitting CPR for 16 years and am passionate about people getting trained. Students tell me, year after year, about wonderful incidents where their relative or friend was saved, how they personally assisted someone, the quick help from EMS (Emergency Medical Services /911) and more.
I include full CPR in the Babysitting class I teach to youth, age 11+. Compressions save lives. It is a beautiful thing when my young students come to me at the end of class and share, with their luminous smiles, “I feel confident, now” and “thank you SO much for this class”! It warms my heart and keeps me going.
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack. Not the same.
People wonder when to call 911 and I like to think of what a paramedic friend of mine always says, “If in Doubt, Call Them Out“. Dispatch is RIGHT THERE for you and helps get clarified what is happening and the urgency of your call. Dispatch rocks.
Dispatchers are typing a constant flow of information to the 911 responders, who are underway in traffic, right away. Dispatchers help you calm down and proceed with care until EMS arrives.
That “Window of Time” until EMS arrives is where YOUR TRAINING kicks in.
You are most likely to give care to someone you love. Be ready. Get trained how to do compressions. Get trained what to do if someone is choking.
You’ll be glad you did.
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Jean Lesmeister, 16 year Babysitting CPR, Adult CPR & First Aid Instructor
American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI)
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