NHS warns ‘call 999’ as it urges people to ‘spread the word’

The NHS has launched a social media campaign as it aims to educate the public on the difference between heart attacks and cardiac arrests.

In a post on X from their official account, the health service attempts to highlight the difference between the two emergencies, emphasising in both cases that 999 should be called immediately.

The post explains that during a heart attack, the person will likely be conscious and may experience symptoms including chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Unlike a heart attack, during a cardiac arrest the person will be unconscious and not breathing, or not breathing normally.

It warns that in such a case, “the faster you act, the better their chance of survival”, as it urges people to call 999 straight away and begin administering CPR.

Cardiac arrests have been highlighted in the public consciousness in recent years after several high-profile incidents in professional football.

In Euro 2020, Denmark captain Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest whilst in the Premier League last season, Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer suffered one in a game against Bournemouth.

In both instances the players survived, largely due to the presence of professional medical care being delivered immediately.

Wales captain Lockyer has since partnered with the British Heart Foundation to increase knowledge of CPR amongst the general public.

Lockyer told the BBC: “In the UK alone, 3,000 people will have a cardiac arrest each year and less than 10% of those will survive. That is purely on the basis that not enough people know CPR.

“Imagine this is somebody you love and you’re helpless. You could save somebody’s life and all it takes is 15 minutes online.”