Would you know what to do in a cardiac emergency? Ask our expert

[EllieSmumsnet]

It’s a common belief when we hear about sudden cardiac arrest or heart attacks, that it affects someone older, someone unwell, someone else. But cardiac arrest can happen at any age and as MyDefib has noted, 80% of cardiac arrests that happen outside of hospital occur at home*, where family members become the first responders.

Survivor and Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK advocate Gareth Cole is helping to challenge the myths and answer the questions many families are afraid to ask, from who’s really at risk, to what you should do in those first critical minutes and what life is like after.

As a survivor and advocate for cardiac arrest awareness, he is partnering with MyDefib to turn awareness into action at home - empowering families to respond confidently to cardiac arrest before it happens, with the mission of saving lives.

Do you have a question about heart health, heart attacks, or cardiac arrests? Gareth is here to answer them.

Share your question by 17/04/026 for a chance to win a £200 voucher (T&Cs).

References - *
mydefib.co.uk/about/

About Gareth:
Gareth knows firsthand the challenges of life after cardiac arrest.

As a survivor, he has turned his experience into a passion for supporting others on their recovery journey. Through his role with Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK, he helps raise awareness, advocate for better aftercare, and foster a strong, supportive community for survivors and their families.

Gareth believes that recovery is more than just surviving—it’s about reclaiming life, finding purpose, and connecting with others who truly understand. His positivity, resilience, and dedication make him an inspiring figure in the cardiac arrest survivor community.

Is there an app anywhere which shows where all working defibrillators are kept ?

I would not - at all, I'd use the 'staying alive' song, and what I was shown when at school. I think I would be able to cope, but seeing this thread scares me, because of the percieved state of the NHS with waits and ambulance delays.
My q would be (because my BIL was sent home with pains in his arms, sweats and feeling generally unwell by his GP - only to find out he'd had a massive heart attack and required a triple bi-pass) do you feel GP's are trained enough to spot ALL of the symptoms of a heart attack - it's only because my BIL is here today because he wanted a second opinion at A and E.

My Dad has dementia. Is there a way we could help to keep him calm if we thought he was having a heart attack?

I lost my dad recently this way, he lived abroad and there wasn’t as much training and awareness and I almost feel nobody even tried to save him. I don’t have a questions but I think raising awareness is so important.

I wanted to know; why is it that men are taken more seriously about heart issues than women? I've noticed that more often than not, women are told that they have anxiety, whereas men are tested straight away with various exams.
It there a particular reason for this such as men being more prone to having heart issues?

Do you feel that a person with even basic cardiac training can use a defib machine, or without one be able to keep a person alive after a heart attack before help arrives - I feel the training I have had - I could do this, but in a realtime situation I may panic - is this how most people feel - and how woild I overcome it and remember our training.

My mum is elderly and frail and very petite, I'd be scared of her ribs - but I know I'd need to push with my closed hands if she was to have a heart attack - she already has angina - is there something I could have in the home first aid wise to help should the worse happen.

Do you have any general advice of things to look out for when it comes to heart health? My husband was recently diagnosed with a heart issue and I'd like to be in a position to help should anything ever happen.

It’s a ‘thing’ in coronary health. Women present differently often, and we have extra difficulties because menopause (oestrogen loss) also affects our hearts. But there has been such a lack of research focused on women’s specific difficulties that women’s health is considerably behind heart wise. It is starting to improve but my local a and e, for example, are not up to date.

Good topic to be discussed here.

the most frightening statistic that stuck with me is that women are far less likely to be given CPR a in the street than men, because people are scared of touching a female.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly1wk02ylvo

British Red Cross do two downloadable free apps for first aid for 1) adults and 2) babies and children:
https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/first-aid-apps

The apps are comprehensive but very easy to read and understand, using pictures and short videos along with printed instructions, of first aid for many common emergencies, including recognising signs and symptoms, resuscitation and using a defribrillator.
Worth having on one’s phone and having a read through, and recommending to others who haven’t had training and need something reliable to reference. Once downloaded onto your devices, the apps work without needing Wi-Fi.

Hi - I think people need to be clearer about the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. Using CPR or a defib for a heart attack when there is no cardiac arrest is dangerous. The heart has to actually have stopped, which it doesn’t for most heart attacks. And not all heart attacks are caused by clots or blockages. Women especially have heart attacks caused by vasospasm when all arteries can be fully clear.

Absolutely. I’ve had 2 heart attacks caused by vasospasm and A&E do struggle as most research is based on male bodies. Vasospasm is much more common for women but its overlooked and treated as a “lesser” type of heart attack. The medication required is different also.

Apart from knowing CPR, apparently coughing helps during a cardiac episode. Cough, cough, cough until paramedics arrive.

Sorry not trying to to preempt the expert's response, but this is what we have always used: https://www.defibfinder.uk

Sadly this is a myth. The BHF website has a section on it.

When you dial 999 - which is absolutely the first thing you should do if someone collapses - they will tell you

• if you need to start CPR and how to do it
• where the nearest defib is (and the code if it's locked). They know about defibs in offices and behind locked doors as long as those defibs have been registered on The Circuit.

If someone is showing signs of a heart attack such as chest pain/left arm pain, you obviously call 999 but is there anything you can do to help while waiting for an ambulance?

Do you feel everyone knows the signs and symptoms of a heart attack - and if someone has had a major heart attack, would then have had symptoms which they may have dismissed, and how do you tell the difference between an indigestion type symptom and one relating to your heart - which of caught early enough may have lessened the severity of the heart attack.

If you have to move someone, what is the safest way?

My gp took my symptoms of high blood pressure, mild chest pain and fainting very seriously and sent me for both an ECG and cardiac scan which revealed lower branch block. I take medication for the high BP. GP was more worried than I was! I am female aged 70, don’t smoke, drink. Moderately and only red wine and swim regularly.

My mother, who is almost 89 years old, has had two heart attacks and her pain was in her back, and a sensation of cold water running down her spine! .... She has been diagnosed as having had two significant heart attacks and now has heart failure (LVDS) .... Is there specific information we, her family should have?

I had no idea about this. I'd like to know more about how to tell the difference and what one should do in either event.

You cannot shock using a public defibrillator unless the heart is in a particular non life sustaining rhythm so don’t worry. When you call 999 after a person collapses they will ask you if the person is breathing in a regular pattern, if not then you need to start CPR and they will talk you through it. Know how to, and teach children and older relatives, how to put a mobile onto loudspeaker. So many people don’t know. Do not worry about hurting a person by getting them onto the floor or by doing CPR, you literally cannot make things worse.
Open the front door and put lights on if dark. It is a good idea to keep a piece of paper for each member of the household, particularly older people or those on medication, with full name, DOB, NHS number, medical conditions, medications and allergies. Keep it easily accessible. You think you know it all but it is surprising what goes out of your mind in an emergency.

I'd like to ask - although I have never been in that situation, do you think with the basic first aid knowledge I can keep someone with a mild heart attack - or even severe heart attack in some sort of life maintaining state in time for a paramedic to take over - I live in a semi rural location. Thanks