IT'S NOT A HEART ATTACK!!

This is the first part of a notice I wrote for the caregivers in John's Memory Care Unit:

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John has been rushed to the hospital four times since December because he looked like he was having a heart attack.  He was not.  He was having panic attacks. 

A panic attack looks exactly like a heart attack....so it is an upsetting thing to witness.  But it will only last for 30-50 minutes....and he isn’t going to die.... 

PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911....

There are several warning signs that John is about to have a panic attack...

1.         His breathing becomes labored and gasping...and he is huffing for air.

2.         He becomes non-verbal...and he cannot understand words other people are saying.

3.         He starts to move in a manic way...literally bouncing off the walls...or maybe even falling.

4.         He is clutching his chest -- because he cannot breathe.

5.         His eyes are wide and wild --because he’s scared.

If John is having these symptoms --

Call Rita (529 _ _ _ _) (first) --

or Ross (370-_ _ _ _) (second). 

One of us will come to ASAP.  

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So -- explaining to the staff what was happening to John was the first step...

The second part of this approach is to give them something TO DO for John...while they're waiting for me or Ross to arrive.  

When somebody is having a panic attack, they are experiencing real pain...their heart is pounding, and they cannot breathe.  In John's case, it's like his senses have shut down...he cannot hear what you're saying to him...or tell you what he's feeling...

So -- everything in my "Panic Attack Kit" is about trying to wake up John's other senses...