Kirchheim local council trains first aid: a blow against cardiac arrest!

Kirchheim local council trains first aid: a blow against cardiac arrest!

An important workshop on first aid took place in Kirchheim, which was led by Hans Müller. He urged participants and citizens to act in the event of an emergency. Many people are afraid of making mistakes when providing first aid. But in the case of cardiac arrest, inaction is the greatest danger, as Müller emphasized. A courageous grip and a strong pressure massage can be decisive until the emergency services arrive. The local councilors present were impressed and motivated by the event. In the coming months, the “Kirchheim against cardiac arrest” campaign will continue with further offers to raise awareness of first aid and encourage more people to take action in emergencies. Bietigheim newspaper reports on this important initiative.

Heart attack as a life-threatening situation

A heart attack can lead to death within a short time, often caused by the arrhythmia ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation occurs at the border between the heart muscle affected by the infarction and the healthy one. This phenomenon leads to disordered excitations of the heart muscle, which leads to mechanical arrest of the heart. After just 10 to 15 seconds, the patient loses consciousness and sudden cardiac death can occur after a few minutes. Therefore, resuscitation measures must be initiated immediately as soon as a heart attack is suspected. Here it is essential to contact the emergency services on the emergency number 112 in order to receive help as quickly as possible. The most important information for the rescue control center is name, address, complaints, the current floor and the name on the bell. This enables rapid and targeted care because every minute counts. The Heart Foundation highlights the urgency of these measures.

A heart attack often occurs when a coronary artery is blocked, which can significantly impair the supply to the heart muscle. Rapid reopening of the vessel is critical to minimizing damage to the heart muscle – a principle known as “time is muscle.” In many cases, a cardiac catheter is used to reopen the blocked vessel and supply it with stents. This life-saving measure should take place in a hospital with a 24/7 cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Symptoms and gender differences

When it comes to the symptoms of a heart attack, there are significant differences between men and women. While severe chest pain is often considered a typical sign of a heart attack, women may experience other, non-specific symptoms. These include tight feelings in the chest, shortness of breath, unexplained tiredness, back pain, sweating or even nausea. These symptoms can often be mistakenly interpreted as gastrointestinal complaints. It is therefore important to take these signs seriously to avoid delaying treatment, which can lead to destruction of the heart muscle and possibly heart failure. The Maltese explain that treatment after a heart attack is independent of gender.