Stories From the Streets: EMT’s Aspirin Helps Save Heart Attack Victim

On a recent Saturday morning at around 1:45 AM, United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Kalanit Taub was awakened from her sleep by her communication device alerting her to a medical emergency nearby. A woman was experiencing extreme chest pains at her home just a few streets away. Taub jumped out of bed, threw on a sweater, and ran out to her car.

She drove quickly through the dark streets of the early morning and arrived at the address within two minutes of receiving the notification. The woman answered the door in relief, and Taub recognized her as her friend of almost 16 years. She was very pale and clutching her chest in pain. The EMT checked the woman’s vitals and found she had high blood pressure. The woman said she also felt nauseous, in addition to the intense pain in her chest and left arm. 

Taub realized the paramedic and ambulance wouldn’t arrive for another few minutes, so she had to act. The woman reported she was allergic to certain medications but couldn’t recall what kind. Taub asked to see the patient’s medical records and quickly scanned the documents to see if aspirin, a medication given to counteract symptoms of a heart attack, was on the list. It wasn’t. Taub administered aspirin, and almost immediately after she swallowed the pills, the woman’s pain started to subside. 

When the mobile intensive care ambulance arrived a few minutes later, the paramedic rushed inside the house to help. The woman was taken to the nearest hospital, where they told her she had been experiencing the beginnings of a heart attack. She suffered from an almost-complete blockage of her left anterior descending (LAD) artery and a serious blockage in another marginal artery. The doctors at the hospital put in two stents. Thanks to the quick treatment and medications from Taub, the heart attack was delayed, and the woman had enough time to make it to the hospital and have the operation, saving her life. 

“I am constantly rushing out to respond to emergencies,” said Taub after the incident, “but when it’s someone I know and it hits close to home, it is even more meaningful. This woman is a dear friend not only to me but also to many other people in our neighborhood. I’m glad I was there to help and that she’s doing OK. I look forward to seeing her again once she’s released from the hospital in good health, which will hopefully be soon.”

Raphael Poch is the international media spokesperson for United Hatzalah.