SAFETY FLASH- Heart Attack

Date: January 28, 2016

Time: 1:50 p.m.

Location: Construction Project – Latham, NY

Type of Incident: Heart Attack

Type of Injury: None

At approximately 1:50 p.m. on January 28th, two steel erection workers were in an aerial boom-lift preparing to install a vertical fixed metal ladder inside of a building when one of the workers started to experience chest pains. Before the operator of the aerial boom-lift could get the basket to the ground, his co-worker was having a heart attack. Two nearby workers from a mechanical piping crew rushed to the scene and began CPR on the worker.Minutes later, emergency personnel arrived on the project to administer medical assistance. Due to the heroic efforts of the two mechanical piping workers, the heart attack victim survived!

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer for Americans. One in three deaths is caused by heart attack or stroke, amounting in nearly 800,000 fatalities each year.

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often, people aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before seeking help. Here are the symptoms of a heart attack:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
  Learn the signs, but remember this:
• Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out by a doctor.
• Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 or the emergency response number at your workplace.
• Learn First-Aid & CPR. Ensure workers at your office or jobsite have been trained in First-Aid/CPR and are willing to respond in the event of an emergency.
• Minutes matter – fast action can save lives!