There are a number of reasons that people don’t call 911, all of which simply waste time, and if in fact there is a serious physical crisis like a heart attack taking place, can increase the odds of a potentially fatal outcome.

Here are some of the ways we’ve encountered that people talk themselves out of calling 911 for help in cardiac situations, and some very important reasons why they should call:

1. It probably isn’t anything serious.
   (If you’re even thinking this, there’s a very strong chance that it is serious.)
2. I’m not a good judge of these things.
   (Now’s the time to take charge and trust what you’ve just learned about heart attack symptoms. You are now a good judge.)
3. I’m afraid of what might happen.
   (Every moment you wait will just make the situation scarier. The sooner you get help, the easier and less frightening the experience will be.)
4. I don’t want to upset my family or cause a scene.
   (Everyone involved will be far more upset if you end up incapacitated, or worse. Isn’t a funeral a far worse scene than a trip to the hospital?)
5. I’ll be embarrassed if it’s really nothing.
   (Would you be willing to take that chance with someone you love? Don’t be embarrassed to death.)
6. It’s too expensive to go to the emergency room.
   (After you call 911, you can laugh at how silly this sounds. Put your money where your mouth is and enjoy the rest of your life.)
7. I’m too healthy / too athletic / too young / I’m a woman – This can’t be happening to me.
   (It can, it does, it might! Stay on the safe side and accept that a heart attack can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.)

Only 6.4 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive because the majority of those witnessing the problem don’t know how to perform CPR, or don’t recognize the symptoms and don’t call 911.

Here are the A-B-C basics of how to perform CPR:
Remember Airway – Breathing – Circulation.

1. Attempt to wake the victim.
   Briskly rub your knuckles against the victim's sternum. If the victim doesn’t awake, call 911 and proceed to step 3. If the victim wakes, moans, or moves, then CPR isn’t necessary. Call 911 if the victim is confused or not able to speak.
2. Begin rescue breathing.
   Open the victim's airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift method. Put your ear to the victim's open mouth:
   look for chest movement
   listen for air flowing through the mouth or nose
   feel for air on your cheek
   If there’s no breathing, pinch the victim's nose shut; make a seal over the mouth with yours using a CPR mask if available. Give the victim a breath big enough to make the chest rise, then let the chest fall and repeat the rescue breath again.
3. Begin chest compressions.
   Carefully feel for a pulse along the side of the windpipe where it meets the victim’s neck. Place your fore and middle fingers firmly but gently and wait a few seconds. If there’s no pulse, place the heel of your hand in the middle of the victim's sternum. Put your other hand on top of the first with your fingers interlaced and compress the chest about 1-1/2 to 2 inches. Allow the chest to completely recoil before the next compression. Compress the chest at a rate equal to 100 per minute. Perform 30 compressions at this rate.
   
4. Repeat rescue breaths.
   Open the airway with head-tilt, chin-lift again. This time, go directly to rescue breaths without checking for breathing again. Give one breath, making sure the chest rises and falls, then give another.
   
5. Perform 30 more chest compressions.
   Repeat steps 5 and 6 for about two minutes.
   
6. Stop compressions and recheck victim for breathing.
   If the victim isn’t breathing, continue chest compressions and rescue breaths.
   
7. Keep going until help arrives.

CPR Tips:

1. Chest compressions are extremely important. If you are not comfortable giving rescue breaths, do perform chest compressions!
   
2. It's normal to feel pops and snaps when you first begin chest compressions - DON'T STOP! You aren't going to make the victim any worse. Cardiac arrest is as bad as it gets.
   
3. When performing chest compressions, do not let your hands bounce. Let the chest fully recoil, but keep the heel of your hand in contact with the sternum at all times.

Contact the American Heart Association for more information on life-saving CPR classes and certification.