COVID-19 Has Caused A Drop In 9-1-1 Calls – AHA Launches ‘Don’t Die Of Doubt’ Campaign
COVID-19 cases continue to increase around the country. And healthcare experts say fear of the virus has many people avoid dialing 9-1-1 when they may need it. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports a 42% drop in emergency room visits from April 2019 to April 2020. Yet, heart attacks and strokes have not stopped.
Enter the American Heart Association and Novant Health who are responding to the drop in 9-1-1 calls by launching a new campaign, “Don’t Die of Doubt.”
The campaign emphasizes symptoms of heart attack and stroke and urges people to call 9-1-1 and seek emergency care at the hospital if they experience symptoms. Healthcare professionals say the best chance to survive a heart attack or stroke is getting immediate medical treatment.
“Time matters,” said Joe Penner, Executive Director of Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic). “It is critical to pay attention to your symptoms and seek out emergency medical care quickly. Medic’s highly trained care providers have implemented heightened safety protocols due to COVID-19 and will respond quickly, assess your situation and get you safely to our local hospitals.”
AHA and Novant Health professionals say the hospital is still the safest place to be during a medical emergency. Novant Health’s Sid Fletcher says, don’t be afraid of the hospital because of the pandemic. He says, if somethings not right, pay attention to the warning signs and get emergency help.
For more about the campaign and community resources, visit www.heart.org/dontdieofdoubt.
