Here's How To Get First Aid For People With Heart Attack

Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Cardiovascular Specialists (PERKI) dr. Isman Firdaus/ Screenshot

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Cardiovascular Specialists (PERKI) dr. Isman Firdaus, mentioned the importance of handling heart disease. Moreover, there was the incident of one of the badminton players, Markus Kido, who died of a heart attack. This shows us how to help not only athletes but also society.

According to him, athletes are rather risky, because they carry out high-intensity and sudden activities. Like badminton athletes, when they do a smash it definitely has an effect on the heart, especially sprinting and soccer.

Likewise with the Danish footballer, Christian Eriksen, who collapsed in the middle of the match. Luckily, his life was saved because he was quick to respond to first aid.

The death rate from heart disease alone accounts for 17 million cases, while worldwide the death toll from war and disease totals 42 million.

"Because the heart alone is 17 million, malaria is 3 million. So, cardiovascular mortality is high in the world," said dr. Isman in a webinar entitled 'Healthy Hearts for Athletes and Sports Activists' which was broadcast live through the official VOI.ID YouTube account, Thursday, July 1.

How do ordinary people help people in cardiac arrest?

Heart and blood vessel specialist, dr. Radityo Prakoso, conveyed how ordinary people can help people with cardiac arrest.

He said the survival or recovery of someone with cardiac arrest will decrease if no help is given over time.

"In the first minute of help, the survival can be between 21-36 percent, you can return to ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) or you can feel the pulse again for 10 minutes and the signs of circulation persist. If you leave it for the next 20 minutes, it will decrease by only 4.6 percent, "said Dr. Radityo.

Meanwhile, at 53 minutes, it was 100 percent certain that he would die if his closest friends did not help. And this was investigated by GOTO with a sample of 17,238 cases.

"So I think this is enough to describe the real world about the problem of cardiac arrest," continued the head of the Cardiovascular Emergency.

Further, dr. Radityo said that every 90 seconds cardiovascular doctors will be bothered with cardiac arrest events around the world.

So, how do we know the symptoms or warning signs of a heart attack?

Mainly, is chest pain or discomfort in the chest, accompanied by dizziness, wanting to pass out and feeling nauseated and vomiting. The pain, said dr. Radityo, very unusual, experienced cold sweats that sometimes felt like someone had been splashed with water accompanied by shortness of breath.

"So when a friend or we ourselves experience something like that, don't delay it for long, go to the doctor quickly for help," he said.

In addition, dr. Radityo suggested that if you find someone or a friend who has cardiac arrest, make sure the environment is safe for help.

"For example, what is not safe is the place where the person fainted due to electrocution, so the electricity must be turned off first. Or in the place of wild animals, don't help make sure the environment is safe," he said.

Next is to do a response check, which is followed by activating the emergency system or asking for help from others.

"You can't be a hero alone, because being alone doesn't solve problems, you have to ask for help. Now is the time for social media to make statuses on Instagram, WhatsApp, use it to ask for help," he said.

After that, do chest compressions (compression chest) accompanied by respiratory symptoms. "For the pandemic era, be careful, make sure the environment is safe and give the best protection for helpers," he urged.

dr. Radityo explained what is meant by a response check, namely tapping the patient's shoulder while calling the victim's name loudly. If there is no immediate response, call for health.

"If you are outside the hospital, you can shout, call an ambulance, if you are in the hospital, activate the emergency system, which we usually call code blue," he said.

Next, is the chest compression technique. First, the patient or victim is laid on a hard mat.

"So if it is found unconscious on the soft bed, we have to move it downstairs. In moving it, we must be careful, it should not be different because if the victim is not known, we must suspect that there is trauma to the spine or he after falling in an accident," said dr. Raditya.

So, where to do cardiac compression or Cardiopuonary resuscitation (CPR)?

That is, in the lower half of the sternum. Press firmly and quickly at a rate of 100-120 per minute at a depth of 5-6 cm.

Make sure the chest recoil, which is pressed and then released. Because the function of the heart is pumping, it not only ejects blood but also has to suck blood to become the material for the next ejection.

Next, minimize the interruption of chest compressions. "So don't call, we have to concentrate on CPR so we can save the victim," said dr. Raditya.

The position of the hands is straight and elbows straight, use our back and body to press. "Because the original is heavy. CPR for 2 minutes is tiring asking for forgiveness. That's why every 2 minutes ask for change," he said

So, added dr. Raditya, complete chest recoil is pumped and removed so that the heart has a chance to fill with blood before the next pump.

"Then the airway stage, open the airway for adults. During the pandemic the airway and briefing stages are not carried out," he explained.