" The ARC does not endorse the "How
              to Survive A Heart Attack When
               Alone" coughing technique which is
               being publicized on the Internet.
              Even though self initiated CPR is
         possible, its use is limited to clinical
         situations in which the patient has a cardiac
             monitor, the arrest is recognized
              before loss of consciousness, and the
               patient can cough forcefully. To date,
               there is insufficient scientific
               research concerning the efficacy of
               Cough CPR. Therefore, the ARC
               cannot advocate teaching the
                  technique until it has been thoroughly
                 tested in national studies and found
                to be effective. Remember that the
                 key signal of a heart attack victim is
                  chest pain that does not go away. If
                  the pain is severe, or does not go
                  away in 10 minutes, stay calm,
                reassure the victim and call your	
            local emergency number! "

> -----Original Message----- > [mailto:owner-live-aboard@crux.astro.utoronto.ca]On Behalf Of > tech@yandina.com > Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 21:56 PM > Subject: lv-ab: Heart Attack Survival > > I never got > instruction on what to do if I was alone and had a heart attack. > Please read this and pass it on. It may save a life. =============================================== This information is medically questionable and could, in fact, Provoke rather than prevent a heart attack. Coughing could cause the heart to go into spasms and stop altogether. The AMA, ARC, and other professional groups, do not endorse it (see quote at end of this e-mail). Here is a direct quote from the Mended Hearts web site, chapter 240 where this article first appeared: "...There is a grain of truth in it, but as usual, a single email on the subject has now raised this procedure to scientific truth in the minds of many of the recipients. The American Red Cross issued this statement in December 1999: "American Red Cross Response to Cough CPR Inquiries: " The ARC does not endorse the "How to Survive A Heart Attack When Alone" coughing technique which is being publicized on the Internet. Even though self initiated CPR is possible, its use is limited to clinical situations in which the patient has a cardiac monitor, the arrest is recognized before loss of consciousness, and the patient can cough forcefully. To date, there is insufficient scientific research concerning the efficacy of Cough CPR. Therefore, the ARC cannot advocate teaching the technique until it has been thoroughly tested in national studies and found to be effective. Remember that the key signal of a heart attack victim is chest pain that does not go away. If the pain is severe, or does not go away in 10 minutes, stay calm, reassure the victim and call your local emergency number! "

            "self initiated CPR is
     possible, its use is limited to clinical
     situations in which the patient has a cardiac
             monitor, the arrest is recognized
              before loss of consciousness, and the
               patient can cough forcefully

weidner@waterw.com writes: >"American Red Cross Response to Cough CPR Inquiries: > > "self initiated CPR is > possible, its use is limited to clinical > situations in which the patient has a cardiac > monitor, the arrest is recognized > before loss of consciousness, and the > patient can cough forcefully ......... > > ........ >key signal of a heart attack victim is > chest pain that does not go away. If > the pain is severe, or does not go > away in 10 minutes, stay calm, > reassure the victim and call your > local emergency number! This advise assumes availability of a clinic/cardiac monitor; also someone to reassure the victim and call for help... We are discussing singlehanders alone out on the water on a 30 ft (or so) boat....... Gg