When Immediate Care is Required

If, in addition to the chest pain, the persons exhibits one or more of the following:

• The pain is described as squeezing, fullness, or pressure and lasts for more than a few minutes.
• Pain that is described as a tearing, ripping, or shearing sensation that radiates to the neck or down the back.
• Pain is spreading to the shoulders, back, neck, jaw, or arms (brief shooting sharp pains are not generally a medical emergency).
• Lightheadedness, fainting, cold sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.
• Cough that may produce blood-streaked spit.
• Severe anxiety.
• Swelling in the legs and/or ankles.
• Sudden difficulty in speaking.
• Sudden changes in vision.

When in doubt, assume that emergency medical attention is required.

Action to Take

1. Call 911
2. If an automated electronic defibrillator (AED) is near by, send someone to get it
3. If the person is not allergic, ask him/her to chew on one regular strength aspirin, or two children aspirins
4. If the person has been prescribed nitroglycerin, you can assist them administer it as directed (generally one tablet beneath the tongue). DO NOT use any medication that was not prescribed to the person. 

When Immediate Care is Less Likely Needed

• If the pain is relieved by exercise (such as walking)
• If the pain is sharp and short lasting
• If the pain is pin-point (They can point with one finger and say, "It hurts here"

In these cases, it is best to monitor for awhile to make sure more severe symptoms don't appear then advise the person to call their doctor while you are there. Stand by far enough away that the person can speak privately while you still can view if the person's condition worsens.