Heart Attack
Chest pain, often with breathlessness, sweating, or nausea.
🚨 Call an ambulance immediately, then follow the steps below.
Step-by-step
- 1
Call emergency services immediately
Say the words "heart attack" — dispatchers prioritise these calls. Don't drive to hospital yourself; ambulances start treatment on the way.
- 2
Sit them down
Have them sit on the floor with their back supported against a wall or chair, knees bent. This eases the load on the heart and prevents injury if they faint.
- 3
Loosen tight clothing
Undo collars, ties, and tight belts. Open a window for air.
- 4
Aspirin if available — only if not allergic
Give one regular aspirin (300 mg) to chew slowly, only if the person is conscious, not allergic, and not bleeding. Chewing works faster than swallowing whole.
- 5
Stay with them, monitor
Reassure them. If they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, start CPR (see CPR guide).
🛑 Do NOT
- Do NOT let them drive themselves to hospital.
- Do NOT let them eat or drink anything other than the aspirin if you gave it.
- Do NOT give aspirin to children, or to anyone allergic, with a bleeding disorder, or recent stomach ulcer.
- Do NOT delay calling because "it might just be indigestion."
📞 Call an ambulance if…
- Chest pain lasting more than 5 minutes.
- Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, or back.
- Pain with sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, or feeling faint.
- Any symptoms in someone with a history of heart disease — don't wait.
This guide is educational content — not medical advice. Always call emergency services first. Sources: Red Cross, American Heart Association, NHS England.