Mission: Lifeline has defined strategies for working with the public and, in particular, patients at their point of need into the STEMI system. This list includes helping the public know what to do to:
- Counsel high-risk patients and their families in advance about recognizing and responding to symptoms of a heart attack
- Implement prospective education with patients and families about the system of care they will access when seeking evaluation of heart attack symptoms in a regional system of care, based on access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI heart attacks
- Address what communities should tell patients about where they will be taken (whether a STEMI-referral or STEMI-receiving hospital), including the rationale and associated logistical issues for transport/transfer
- Convey to patients and their families the ramifications and downfalls of self-transport to the hospital
- Promptly recognize symptoms of a heart attack
- Call 9-1-1 or the number to access emergency medical services (EMS) if symptoms last more than five minutes
- If the patient has a history of heart disease, follow instructions given by physician for sublingual nitroglycerin (After taking ONE, if discomfort or chest pain is unimproved or worsening, it is recommended that the patient or family member/friend call 9-1-1 or the number to access EMS immediately.)
- Sit down or lie down
- Take aspirin as instructed by dispatch operator if available in the household
- Provide education and concrete logistical information to family members of patients being transferred out of their community to a STEMI-receiving hospital (This is done by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel and should include directions to the STEMI-receiving hospital, parking information and where to find the patient in the hospital.)
