Promoting Awareness of Heart Attack Symptoms and Responsive Action

Speaker:
Karen Avila, MSN, RN - Professional Practice Coordinator, Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell

Description:
The proposed projected is to determine if a comprehensive mass media campaign targeting the community’s awareness of heart attack symptoms be associated with a substantial reduction in the incidence of walk-in ED visits and associated cardiac arrests. The campaign is to also address the barriers to seeking urgent EMS care and addressing the potential risks associated with ignoring symptoms and reduce any perception of embarrassment that may be caused by ‘false alarms’.

• Evaluate the impact of a comprehensive campaign focused on educating community members on the importance of initiating Emergency medical Services when having signs and symptoms of a heart attack.