Heart attack awareness campaign

The Heart Improvement Team, part of the Sussex Heart Network, together with the British Heart Foundation and the South East Coast Ambulance Service, aims to educate members of the public on the signs and symptoms of a heart attack so they can take immediate action.

Andy Newton, Consultant Paramedic with the South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "As ambulance clinicians we do everything we can to ensure patients receive the treatment they need as quickly as possible - in some cases this may mean life saving drugs administered at the scene by paramedics, or more commonly it may mean patients being taken to a specialist unit to receive definitive care.

"What is vital is starting treatment as soon as possible after onset of symptoms, and this is why we need the public to be more aware of what these are so that they don't delay in calling us if they think they, or a relative or friend, is having a heart attack. Early action saves lives."

The campaign will aim to increase awareness of the urgency of calling 999 with chest pain or discomfort and other associated symptoms by dispersing thousands of information booklets and posters across the county.

Among symptoms to be aware of are:

- A pain in the centre of the chest

- heavy pressure, tightness, crushing pain or discomfort

- sweating, sickness faintness and difficulty breathing

- Symptoms may come and go - they could last more than 15 minutes and stop, or get less then return.

- If there is a short stabbing pain in the left-side of the chest it's usually not heart pain.

It is crucial that if you or someone close to you has symptoms that do not go away, call 999 and tell them you think it might be a heart attack.