The NHS is urging people to “spread the word” and warning that 999 calls should be made in a number of situations. A social media post from the health service’s official account this week is aimed at helping people to “know what to do”, as it could save lives.
According to the British Heart Foundation, someone has a heart attack every five minutes in the UK, with around 100,000 hospital admissions each year. There are also more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, with a survival rate of less than one in 10.
NHS bosses want to make people aware of the difference between the two, and a recent post on X reads: “Would you know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? Know what to do in these emergencies and help spread the word.”
With a heart attack, the NHS said, the person will “usually be conscious and may experience symptoms including chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath.” Its advice continues: “If you think someone is having a heart attack, call 999 immediately”.
Someone who is having a cardiac arrest will be unconscious, and either not breathing or not breathing normally. NHS guidance continues: “The faster you act, the better their chances of survival”. If you think someone is experiencing a cardiac arrest, you should dial 999 immediately and begin CPR.
Around 1.4 million people alive in the UK today have survived a heart attack.