Paramedics can play key role in heart attack outcomes

Paramedics can play a key role in improving heart attack outcomes if they administer electrocardiograms (ECGs).

According to research, providing paramedics with the training they need to give ECGs and understand their readings can speed up treatment processes for heart attack patients.

Paramedics would be able to evaluate those experiencing chest pain and deliver a swift diagnosis and treatment for those with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

This form of serious heart attack has been shown to have successful outcomes should paramedics deliver ECG screenings on site.

Lead investigator Dr Robin A Ducas explained that it is well known that morbidity and mortality are related to the "duration of ischemia and delays in restoring the flow of blood to the heart of even 30 minutes have been associated with an increase in mortality".

By training paramedics to interpret ECGs, it is possible to lower the amount of time before normal blood flow is restored.

A study by the British Heart Foundation recently found that in the UK there were 461,017 deaths from heart related complications, some of which may have been prevented had treatment being administered more swiftly.

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