Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) is one of the most life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies. It develops rapidly, carries a high mortality rate, and offers only a very short window for life-saving treatment. Recently, a middle-aged man suffered an acute heart attack at home and was in critical condition. The emergency medical team from Beijing 120's Xinfadi Station of the Fengtai Emergency Medical Center responded immediately, providing timely and professional care that helped save the patient's life.

On the afternoon of the incident, the patient was resting at home when he suddenly developed severe symptoms without warning. He experienced intense, crushing chest pain radiating to the front of the chest and back, accompanied by severe chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, profuse cold sweating, and generalized weakness. Within minutes, the pain became unbearable. He appeared pale, was breathing rapidly, and was unable to move normally. Suspecting a serious cardiac emergency, his family wasted no time and immediately called 120 for emergency medical assistance.

Upon receiving the dispatch, physician Pan Zhiwei, nurse Li Zhenyu, ambulance driver Zheng Kexin, and stretcher bearer Jiao Huaiguo set off without delay. With sirens activated, the ambulance raced to the patient's home. Fully aware of the life-threatening nature of acute myocardial infarction, the team anticipated the patient's condition en route and fully prepared for resuscitation, preparing the electrocardiograph (ECG) machine, emergency medications, and monitoring equipment in advance so that treatment could begin immediately upon arrival.

After arriving at the scene, Dr. Pan quickly assessed the patient's condition. The patient, who weighed more than 100 kilograms and had obesity, reported persistent, severe crushing chest pain accompanied by profuse sweating and marked weakness—classic signs of an acute myocardial infarction.

Recognizing that every second mattered, the emergency team immediately initiated standardized emergency treatment. Nurse Li promptly connected the patient to a cardiac monitor to continuously assess heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation. Based on the ECG findings and the patient's clinical presentation, the team rapidly confirmed a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Given the severity of the patient's condition and the rapid progression of symptoms, emergency personnel immediately administered appropriate prehospital medications to relieve myocardial ischemia, improve coronary blood flow, alleviate chest pain, and help prevent further thrombus progression, effectively slowing the deterioration of the patient's condition.

Throughout the rescue, the team closely monitored the patient's level of consciousness, complexion, breathing, and pain while continually reassuring him and encouraging him to remain calm, helping to reduce emotional stress and avoid placing additional strain on the heart.

Because of the patient's body size, transferring him safely posed a significant challenge. The ambulance driver and stretcher bearer worked in close coordination, carefully lifting and transferring him onto the stretcher using proper techniques. Every effort was made to minimize unnecessary movement and vibration in order to reduce cardiac workload and ensure the safest possible transport.

Once the patient was secured in the ambulance, the team immediately departed for the hospital. During transport, emergency personnel continued continuous cardiac monitoring and symptomatic treatment while remaining alert for potentially fatal complications such as cardiac arrhythmias or sudden deterioration. At the same time, they communicated with the receiving hospital through the prehospital communication system, providing a detailed report of the patient's condition and the treatment already administered so that the hospital's emergency department could activate the heart attack "green channel" upon arrival.

Thanks to the professional and efficient care provided by the Beijing 120 emergency team, the patient's chest pain improved significantly, his vital signs gradually stabilized, and no further critical events occurred during transport. He was safely delivered to the hospital for definitive treatment, securing the precious golden window for successful lifesaving intervention.

Beijing 120 Reminder: A heart attack can occur anytime and anywhere. Typical warning signs include persistent chest pain, a crushing or squeezing sensation in the chest, pain radiating to the back, profuse sweating, shortness of breath, and marked weakness. If you or someone around you develops symptoms suggestive of a heart attack, do not ignore the symptoms or try to "tough it out", do not delay seeking medical attention, and do not drive yourself to the hospital. Instead, stop all physical activity, remain at rest, and call 120 immediately. Early recognition, early activation of emergency medical services, and early treatment are the keys to improving survival from acute myocardial infarction.