St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity, is bringing you some simple, but life saving, first aid tips – this week: heart attacks.

A heart attack happens when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot.
Lots of people make a full recovery from a heart attack, but there’s a serious risk that the heart might stop beating – called a cardiac arrest.

It’s vital that you treat someone having a heart attack straight away, otherwise they could die.
If you think someone is having a heart attack, look for the four Ps:
1. Pain – a continuous pain in the chest, which could spread to the jaw, neck or arms
2. Pale skin
3. Rapid and weak pulse
4. Perspiration/sweating

What you need to do
Call 999 or 112 for medical help and say you think someone is having a heart attack.
Then, help move them into the most comfortable position. The best position is on the floor leaning against a wall with knees bent and head and shoulders supported. This should ease the pressure on their heart and stop them hurting themselves if they collapse.

Give them a 300mg aspirin, if available and they're not allergic, and tell them to chew it slowly.
Be aware that they may develop shock. Shock does not mean emotional shock, but is a life-threatening condition, which can be brought on by a heart attack.

Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response. If they lose responsiveness at any point, open their airway, check their breathing, and prepare to treat someone who has become unresponsive. You may need to do CPR.

For those looking for quick, easily accessible first aid information, the St John Ambulance app is available free on smartphones and the website (www.sja.org.uk) offers lots of free advice.

Article supplied by Kate Rutsch