New AHA campaign to educate, raise awareness of hospital safety amid COVID-19
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The American Heart Association announced the launch of an education and awareness campaign aimed to reassure the public that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals are the safest place to go when experiencing symptoms of MI or stroke.
According to a press release from the AHA, The Don’t Die of Doubt campaign emphasizes that the emergency response system from dispatchers to first responders is trained to help safely and quickly, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Heart attacks and strokes don’t stop happening just because of COVID-19,” Robert Harrington, MD, FAHA, Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine and chair of the department of medicine at Stanford University, and president of the AHA, said in the release. “With heart attacks and strokes, time is of the essence. Our ‘Don’t Die of Doubt’ effort attempts to alleviate unnecessary fears about calling 9-1-1 or going to the emergency department during the pandemic. Emergency responders, as well as doctors and nurses at the hospital, are well-equipped to keep you, and themselves, safe while providing lifesaving emergency care. When seconds count, the hospital is the still safest place to be.”
The AHA statement included descriptions of symptoms of both MI and stroke. Symptoms of MI may include:
- Chest discomfort;
- pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach;
- shortness of breath;
- breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness; and
- chest pain, the most common symptom in women.
The AHA release recommended use of the letters in "F.A.S.T." to recognize signs of a stroke:
- Face drooping;
- Arm weakness;
- Speech difficulty;
- Time to call 9-1-1. If an individual shows any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1.
“We’ve all read the headlines about the decrease in 9-1-1 calls suggesting that many people are not seeking care for medical emergencies like heart attack or strokes,” Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA, said in the release. “This is of great concern because we know that heart attacks and strokes have not stopped. The association is responding by reassuring the public that hospitals are the safest place to be if you have an emergency. Yes, you can — and should — still call 9-1-1 and go to the ER for emergencies. Don’t stay silent and don’t stay home.”
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