Chest pain at work

Question 1

A colleague clutches his chest. He looks grey and sweaty and says it feels like something heavy sitting on him. Heart attack or cardiac arrest?

Accepted Answer

Heart attack — a blocked artery is starving the heart muscle of blood. He's still conscious and breathing

Answer

Cardiac arrest — the heart has stopped

Answer

Probably just indigestion

Answer

Impossible to tell without an ECG

Question 2

You're sure it's a heart attack. What do you do?

Accepted Answer

Call 999, help him sit comfortably (often in the 'W' position — back supported, knees bent), reassure him, and if he isn't allergic and isn't already taking a blood thinner, offer him a 300mg aspirin to chew slowly

Answer

Get him to walk it off

Answer

Drive him to A&E yourself

Answer

Give him a glass of water and wait

Question 3

Halfway through your 999 call he slumps sideways and stops responding. You can't see normal breathing. What now?

Accepted Answer

Tell the call handler 'he's arrested', get him flat on the floor and start chest compressions immediately

Answer

Try to wake him with a strong cup of tea

Answer

Wait for the paramedics — you might do more harm

Answer

Roll him into the recovery position

Question 4

The office AED arrives. The first shock has been delivered. What happens next?

Accepted Answer

Resume CPR immediately for 2 minutes until the AED tells you to stop for the next rhythm check

Answer

Stop and wait for paramedics

Answer

Check for a pulse for a full minute

Answer

Give him aspirin

Question 5

The paramedics are pulling up. What do they most need from you?

Accepted Answer

Time of collapse, what he was complaining of before (chest pain), any aspirin or GTN given, number of shocks delivered, and known medical history if you have it

Answer

His National Insurance number

Answer

Your guess at his blood pressure

Answer

His full address history

Chest pain at work — free online first aid refresher | Brity®