Mini-Chat
Adam Gretton, health correspondent Tuesday, December 31, 2013
9:35 AM
Four of the key symptoms:
Pain (in the chest)
Pale skin
Pulse (rapid or weak)
Perspiration (or profuse sweating)
A first aid charity is calling on people in East Anglia to make a lifesaving new year’s resolution by helping to reduce the number of heart attack deaths
St John Ambulance is urging people to watch and share a six- second film to help educate the public about the symptoms of a heart attack.
The campaign aims to increase understanding of the potentially fatal condition where every second counts.
The charity says that 92,000 people in the UK suffer heart attacks every year, and a third of those die as a result. However, 70pc of people in the East of England wrongly believe that a heart attack is a cardiac arrest, according to new research coordinated by the organisation.
The symptoms of a heart attack are known as the four Ps, which are pain (in the chest), pulse (rapid or weak), perspiration and pale skin. If these are spotted swiftly, and appropriate treatment is given, a heart attack may not lead to a potentially fatal cardiac arrest when a person stops breathing and requires resuscitation.
Officials from St John Ambulance are encouraging people to watch and share their new film, which is being launched today to get people to recognise the first signs of a heart attack.
Sue Killen, chief executive of the charity, said this was one resolution that people could easily keep.
“We want to give people the chance to make an achievable – and potentially lifesaving resolution. Help us reduce heart attack deaths by watching our quick steps on how to spot a heart attack, and share it with your friends. We hope it isn’t, but this could be the year you need to use it.”
The film can be viewed at www.sja.org.uk/4ps
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/cha ... _1_3162653
