If you have a heart attack at home, do this in 10 seconds and you can save your life.(1 / 2)

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There is no secret 10-second maneuver—such as coughing repeatedly or hitting your chest—that will stop a heart attack.

Internet myths like “Cough CPR” are incorrect and dangerous for an at-home heart attack. Coughing rapidly does not clear a blocked coronary artery, and attempting it wastes critical seconds when you should be getting immediate emergency assistance.
If you suspect you or someone else is having a heart attack at home, take these proven, life-saving steps immediately:

1. Call Emergency Services (911) First

Do not attempt to drive yourself to the hospital unless there are no other options. Paramedics can begin life-saving medical treatment, monitor your heart rhythm, and administer oxygen the moment they arrive.

2. Chew and Swallow an Aspirin (If Recommended)

Chew one full-dose 325 mg aspirin (or 4 low-dose baby aspirins). Chewing it breaks down the pill so it enters your bloodstream faster, helping to inhibit blood clots from growing larger in your coronary artery.
Do not take aspirin if you are allergic to it, have been told by a doctor never to take it, or have active internal bleeding.

3. Unlock the Front Door and Sit Down

Unlock your front door so emergency responders can enter without delay if you lose consciousness. Sit down on the floor or a comfortable chair in a resting position (leaning slightly forward with knees bent) to reduce the strain on your heart and prevent injuries from a fall.

4. Stay Calm and Loosen Tight Clothing

Unbutton your shirt collar and loosen tight belts or pants to make breathing as easy as possible. Deep, steady breaths help maximize oxygen flow to your tissues.

What to Do If Someone Else Collapses (Cardiac Arrest)

If a person loses consciousness, stops breathing, or is unresponsive:
  1. Call emergency services immediately.
  2. If available, retrieve and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
  3. Perform Hands-Only CPR: Push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute (to the rhythm of the song “Stayin’ Alive”) until help arrives.

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