Heart attack

A heart attack is one of the most common life-threatening heart conditions in the UK. If you think a person is having or has had a heart attack, make them as comfortable as possible and call 999 or 112 for an ambulance.

Symptoms can include:

• Chest pain – the pain is usually located in the centre of the chest and can feel like a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing.
• Pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is traveling from the chest to one or both arms, jaw, neck, back or abdomen.

Sit the person down:

If they are conscious, reassure them and give them an aspirin tablet to chew slowly (unless they are allergic). If the person has any medication for angina, such as a spray or tablets, help them to take it.

Monitor their breathing, until help arrives:

If the person becomes unconscious, open their airway, check their breathing and, if necessary, start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Stroke

The FAST guide is the most important thing to remember when dealing with people who have had a stroke. The earlier they receive treatment, the better. Call for emergency medical help straight away.

If you suspect a person has had a stroke, recognise these signs:

• Facial weakness: is the person unable to smile evenly or are their eyes or mouth droopy?
• Arm weakness: is the person only able to raise one arm?
• Speech problems: is the person unable to speak clearly or understand you?
• Time to call 999 or 112 for emergency help if a person has any of these symptoms.

For both of these conditions, time is vital. Never be afraid to get help, it's much better to be safe than sorry. Emergency staff would much rather check people over than have to rush people to hospital too late.

For more tips and advice, contact Angela Cottis, from AJ Training.