This guide describes ambulances in general. What the ambulance for your trip carries, and who travels with the patient, is confirmed by our dispatcher before you book.
Yes, an ambulance crew can check the heart on the way: pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level and, if the ambulance has one, an ECG. What they cannot do is give a final answer. The hospital confirms a heart attack with an ECG read by a doctor and blood tests.
If you think someone is having a heart attack now, stop reading and call an ambulance. This page explains what happens after the call.
What the crew checks
- Symptoms and history. What hurts, since when, medicines taken, past heart problems.
- Pulse, blood pressure and oxygen. Quick readings, repeated on the way.
- ECG. Small stickers on the chest and limbs record the heart’s electrical signal for a few seconds.
What the ECG can show
A heart attack often changes the pattern on the ECG. A trained crew can spot some of those changes and call the hospital so the team is ready when you arrive. This early warning can save time at the door.
What the ECG cannot show
- A normal ECG does not rule out a heart attack. Some show no change at first.
- Some ambulances have no ECG. Basic vehicles may carry only a pulse oximeter and a blood pressure cuff. See what ambulance crews carry.
- Blood tests that confirm heart muscle damage are normally done in hospital.
What the crew does on the way
- Gives oxygen if needed
- Keeps the patient calm and comfortable
- Watches the heart rhythm
- Tells the hospital what they found
Medicines or other treatment depend on the crew’s training and the doctor’s orders. See crew training.
Which hospital?
The nearest hospital is not always the right one. A hospital with a cardiac unit can treat a blocked artery. If a doctor has already named a hospital, tell the dispatcher. For ICU-level transfers see our ICU ambulance service.
What to tell the dispatcher
- Where the patient is, with a landmark
- Their age and what they feel
- Whether they have heart disease
- Which hospital, if a doctor has named one
Call 01919-339689 any time. A dispatcher answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
