Key Facts:
- Cardiovascular disease causes 1 in 4 deaths in Australia, with 57,000 heart attacks annually and 19 deaths per day
- Over 32,000 Australians experience sudden cardiac arrest yearly, with only 10% surviving without immediate intervention
- Survival rates can increase to 60-70% when bystanders perform immediate CPR and use an AED quickly
- Key first aid steps include calling Triple Zero (000), keeping the person calm and upright, loosening clothing, and assisting with prescribed medication
- Bystander CPR and early AED use are crucial life-saving interventions that anyone can learn through proper training
With February bringing a renewed focus on heart health, a leading first aid training organisation is reminding Australians that in the event of a heart attack, immediate, informed action can save lives.
National First Aid Courses (NFAC) director Samuel Bohr explained cardiovascular disease remains one of Australia's biggest health challenges, accounting for around one in four deaths nationally and contributing to thousands of serious heart events every year.
Each year, an estimated 57,000 Australians suffer a heart attack, with someone hospitalised approximately every nine minutes due to a heart attack. On average about 19 Australians die of a heart attack each day.
Equally critical are sudden cardiac arrests where the heart stops beating entirely, with more than 32,000 Australians affected each year and only about one in 10 surviving out of hospital without immediate intervention.
However, when bystanders start CPR immediately and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) within minutes, survival chances can jump dramatically, in some cases to as high as 60–70 per cent.
"Heart Health Month is an important reminder that first aid skills go beyond certificates. They're practical abilities that can literally save the people we care about most," Mr Bohr said.
"Knowing when and how to act in those first minutes makes all the difference."
Immediate first aid tips for a heart attack
If someone shows symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or discomfort spreading to the arms, neck, or jaw:
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately - fast professional help is critical.
Help the person sit down and stay calm - ideally sitting upright to ease breathing.
Loosen tight clothing - aiding circulation and comfort.
Assist with prescribed medication - such as nitroglycerin if available and advised.
Be ready to perform CPR - if the person becomes unresponsive and isn't breathing normally, start chest compressions without delay and continue until paramedics arrive.
Why it matters
Research shows that bystander CPR can significantly increase survival rates in cardiac emergencies, and that early use of an AED, especially within the first few minutes, can be the difference between life and death.
"Simple, timely actions like calling for help, beginning CPR, and using an AED can turn a potential tragedy into a survival story," Mr Bohr said.
"These are skills anyone can learn."
National First Aid Courses offers accredited first aid training across Australia, covering heart attack response, CPR, AED use, and other life-saving techniques.
