We remain concerned about the time it’s taking for Kiwis to seek medical attention when experiencing symptoms suggestive of a heart attack. Early medical assessment can be the difference between life and death.
Last year, we ran a campaign with two aims: to raise awareness of the warning signs of a heart attack, and to help Kiwis understand the importance of seeking urgent medical help by calling 111. We’ll be running the same campaign this year and would love for you to get involved. This campaign highlights the need for urgency when seeking emergency care. Kiwis need to get help sooner when they’re experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. If you survive one event there is a high risk of having another. Almost 50% of all heart events happen in people who have known heart disease. To reduce delays in seeking medical attention, we recommend that all patients with known heart disease have an angina action plan, and that they understand the steps to take in case of emergency.
Our Heart Attack Awareness campaign will run for three weeks, starting on 10 July, and includes a TV commercial (similar to last year’s campaign), online video, social media material, and print resources. We have resources available to explain heart attack symptoms and how to respond. These include:
- Posters (available in A3 and A4, in English, Samoan, Tongan and Māori languages)
- Heart attack awareness pamphlet
- Emergency details wallet card with angina action plan
- Angina A5 flyer
- Living well after a heart attack A5 booklet