Why Every Beat Matters: What to Do in a Heart-Attack Emergency

A squeezing chest pressure that wont quit. Pain or heaviness radiating to the arm, jaw, or back. Sudden shortness of breath, sweating, or a feeling of impending doom. If you, or someone near you, has any of these signs, assume it's a heart attack until proven otherwise.

What to do if you or someone you love is experiencing a heart attack

1. Ensure scene safety

2. Dial 911 immediately. Grab an automated external defibrillator (AED) if there is one on hand. Time is critical. When EMS arrives they can start lifesaving care en route and transmit an on-the-spot EKG to the hospital

3. If the person collapses or is not breathing, begin CPR with compressions

4. Administer CPR. Push down hard and fast at least two inches in the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 pushes a minute until help arrives.

5. Stay calm, keep talking. Reassurance lowers adrenaline spikes and helps EMS gather crucial information.

When EMS arrives, ask for Touro

When you tell EMS "take me to Touro," you're choosing a hospital recognized by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association as a Primary Heart Attack Center which means:

• A 24/7 "code STEMI" team is already on call and activated if necessary
• Door-to-cath-lab protocols are measured in minutes, not hours.
• Evidence-based care restores blood flow quickly, protecting heart muscle and shortening recovery.

When every minute matters, make one request clear to the paramedics: "Take me to Touro's Primary Heart Attack Center." There, a round-the-click team and proven protocols stand ready to restore blood flow fast and five your heart its best shot at a full recovery.