It's OK to Call Triple Zero (000)!

The month of May heralds ‘Heart Week’ from the 6th -12th . This is an especially important focus given there are on average 131 reported heart attacks every day in Australia. Tragically 28 of those people die every day as a result.

One of the biggest problems is people who have symptoms are reluctant to do anything about it until sadly it is too late. The time between the beginning of symptoms and calling triple Zero is the most significant cause of delay in treatment. This delay is typically six hours which is seriously gambling with life.

If ever you think there maybe reason to call triple Zero (000) just do it because this will not automatically despatch an ambulance to your door. The operators are specially trained to triage the seriousness of symptoms and can advise accordingly. Remember time is everything in saving lives when heart attack happens so don’t wait and see as it could end tragically.

Many people who do take action once symptoms get more serious think an ambulance is simply a transport vehicle so they drive themselves to the hospital. Ambulances are mobile emergency departments with highly sophisticated lifesaving equipment and trained paramedics that save lives.

Remember if you pay taxes you have paid for ambulance care many times over so don’t be a martyr to save the government a few dollars or avoid making a fuss. Remember they will send an ambulance anyway if you do have a fatal heart attack.

We are all at risk! I knew a 22 year old professional tennis player who died of a heart attack so why not me and you? The greatest danger is being ignorant to your risk. If you are female and 40 or older you have a 1 in 3 chance of having a heart attack by age 70 and 40 year old Australian males have a 1 in 2 chance of having a heart attack by age 70.

Find out more at www.heartattackfacts.org