I am participating in an Ambassador program on behalf of Influence Central and hosted by the makers of Bayer® Aspirin. I have received compensation to thank me for my participation. All opinions expressed are my own.
Can carrying one extra small thing in your purse really help save lives and make you a hero when you least expect it? If that one thing is aspirin, it just might! When someone is having a heart attack, aspirin could make a huge difference while waiting for emergency help to arrive. We’ll talk more about that, and how you can be a hero, in a minute. First, let me tell you a story.
A few months ago, I was having a pretty rotten night. My anxiety levels were sky high and I was crying a lot over something that was going on in my life at the time. I went to my bedroom to try to unwind and read a book. Ten minutes later, I had a clutching pain in my chest that had my mom calling 911 immediately. When the ambulance arrived, one of the first things they gave me was aspirin to chew on. In the end, it turned out that I was just having a massive panic attack, which, trust me, can feel just like a heart attack.
Although I’ve experienced panic attacks most of my life, I never had chest pain with them, so it really scared me! It made me think more about what I would do if it WAS a heart attack. My dad died from a heart attack, my grandmother had heart disease at the end of her life and my aunt had a heart condition. It definitely runs in the family.
Become a Bayer Aspirin Hero Smith to Help Save Lives
Bayer Aspirin has an incredible campaign called The HeroSmiths Theory that not only addresses the issue of heart attacks throughout the U.S., but also helps all of us realize the life-saving benefits of Bayer Aspirin. It’s really quite simple: chewing aspirin during a suspected heart attack could save a life. Of course, in order for that to happen, aspirin needs to be readily and quickly available. Bayer Aspirin wants to change that by turning every person with the most common last name (Smith) into a potential hero.
Of course, your last name doesn’t need to be Smith to make a difference! I have one of the world’s least common last names (I am literally the only Nicole Etolen in the US, and possibly in the world) and I took the pledge! It takes just a minute to do. Plus, you can print out a coupon for $2 off Bayer Aspirin products.
On the HeroSmiths website, I also took a quick quiz to determine how many people I could theoretically help save in my area. I was surprised to see that, despite the fact that I work from home and don’t really take public transportation, I could still save as many as 664 people! Even if it was just one person, it would be enough reason to take the pledge. Plus, when you save a life, you’re also saving a family from suffering the devastation of losing a loved one. Check out this video to learn more about the HeroSmiths Theory.
Signs & Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Along with carrying aspirin in your purse, it’s also important for everyone to know the signs of a heart attack. First, let me just say that if you so much as even suspect a heart attack, it’s important to call 911. The heart is not something you want to mess around with or guess at. Signs include:
- Chest Tightening
- Faintness or Lightheadedness
- Paleness
- Sweating
Signs that are more common in women include:
- Pain that radiates to your jaw, shoulders, neck or arms
- Shortness of breath (can occur with or without chest pain)
- Nausea
- Extreme fatigue
Again, it’s so important to call for help right away. Even if you think it’s just a panic attack or some other minor ailment, it’s so much better to err on the side of caution. During the wait for help to arrive, Bayer Aspirin can increase the chance of survival by helping to keep blood from clotting. But again, someone has to have it on hand! That’s why it’s so important to take the pledge to keep it in your purse, backpack, or even in your keychain. That one small act could change so many lives.
Take the pledge to carry aspirin and share via social media so your friends and family can join you in helping save lives!
In the event of a suspected heart attack, immediately call 9-1-1 and chew or crush and swallow aspirin as directed by a doctor.
