If someone shows signs of a heart attack but does not have chest pain, what should you do?

• A. Drive to hospital yourself.
• B. Give them aspirin and wait.
• C. Call 911.
• D. Ignore and walk away.

Answer: (C)

When a heart attack is suspected, act quickly by getting professional help on the scene. Symptoms without chest pain can still indicate a heart attack, so calling emergency services right away ensures trained responders can assess, provide prehospital care, and transport to a hospital equipped to treat a heart attack. Time matters because heart muscle is damaged while the blockage persists, and EMS can start monitoring, administer appropriate medications, and notify the hospital to be ready.

Driving the person to the hospital yourself delays care and removes important monitoring and treatment that a trained team can provide en route. Waiting after giving any medication isn’t the priority here; the immediate step is to summon EMS and have them stay with you while monitoring the person. If appropriate, practice safe first aid basics—have them rest, loosen tight clothing, and be prepared to perform CPR if they become unresponsive. Ignoring the situation should be avoided because a heart attack can worsen rapidly.