I received an interesting forwarded message from a close colleague at work this evening which I thought I would post here. Being an aging wargamer with heart problems who lives alone, I thought that the advice below may well be useful to other old codgers wargamers in a similar position to myself. I don't know whether what's suggested would actually work, but considering  the circumstances and lack of alternatives it certainly seems better than doing nothing at all.

Valuable Piece of information
Let's say it's 6.15pm and you're going home, after an unusually hard day at work. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to drag out into your arm and up into your jaw You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home.. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself..

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.

However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.
A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!!

A cardiologist says If everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can bet that we'll save at least one life.

Rather than sending jokes please.. Contribute by forwarding this mail which can save a person's life....If this message comes around you ...........more than once.....please don't get irritated.......YOU need to be happy that you are being reminded of how to tackle....Heart attacks....AGAIN...

Penni Giles
Continuing Care Administrator
NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly

One thing Ms Giles omits to add is that at some point during this self-resuscitation you also need to try and call for an ambulance...but aside from that the instructions seem sound enough to me.

Bob

I'd be careful about this. Its not total bunk, but not recommended if you aren't under medical supervision.
http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/coughcpr.asp

Anything that says "tell ten others" is immediately suspicious.

That's an interesting rand informative response Clib, I'll definitely refer to this site next time I get a forwarded email.

Bob

Those of us who know we have heart problems generally carry a GTN spray. Must be prescribed, though.

I don't go anywhere without mine... It's my closest friend!

Bob

Quote from: wargamesbob on 30 March 2012, 08:58:30 PM
I don't go anywhere without mine... It's my closest friend!

Bob

Yeah, one in my pocket, one in the glove compartment of my car and one in the house. I'm taking no chances.