Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue: Heart Attacks


Home > Safety Tips > Medical Emergencies > Heart Attacks Medical Emergencies Heart Attacks Medical Emergencies

Every year about 785,000 Americans have their first heart attack. Another 470,000 will have a second heart attack.

A heart attack is different than sudden cardiac arrest.

Know the Signs & What to Do…
(click on image for tips you can print)

In a 2005 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 92% of respondents recognized chest pain as a symptom of a heart attack. However, only 27% were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a heart attack.

TVF&R responds to hundreds of heart-related calls every year. Many of these incidents involve people who wait hours, sometimes days, before calling 911...don’t make this fatal mistake!


		"If it feels like a heart attack, get help and don't delay!" Oregonian - March 18th, 2009

A heart attack can begin so slowly or mildly that you may be unsure of what’s happening.

Chest discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and returns. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
Upper body discomfort, such as pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of breath before, during, or after other discomforts.
Other signs, including breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

Women are more likely to experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

The heart is a muscle.
It deteriorates with each passing minute from the onset of a heart attack until treatment.

A heart attack is a ‘plumbing’ problem in the heart. When a heart attack occurs, the heart muscle that has lost blood supply begins to die. The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the size of the area supplied by the blocked artery and the time between injury and treatment.

Tragically, many heart attack patients die (because the heart goes into cardiac arrest) or have reduced quality of life because of the damage to the heart.

Special drugs and treatment can prevent or limit damage to the heart, but must be administered quickly.
TVF&R paramedics do this on scene!

Driving to the hospital or calling your physician does not save time. Calling 9-1-1 does.

Every TVF&R unit carries advanced life-support drugs and a cardiac monitor with 12-lead EKG capability. The monitors enable paramedics to diagnose which part of the heart is failing and begin treating you immediately. If you must be transported, information gathered by our paramedics is relayed to the hospital – before you arrive - enabling physicians to begin mixing drugs and preparing for your arrival.

This partnership saves time, heart muscle, and lives.

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
Command & Business Operations Center
20665 SW Blanton Street
Aloha, Oregon 97007

Tel: (503) 649-8577 | Fax: (503) 642-4814

Medical Emergencies

Heart Attacks