When an individual has a heart attack in a wilderness area, he or she may have to decide between walking out, which risks additional damage, and waiting for help, which can increase the length of time involved in securing care. If a cell phone is available, experts suggest calling for an airlift, as that may be the fastest way to get the patient professional help.
The patient's location may mean that an airlift is an hour or more away, but the first hour is the most risky in a heart attack situation. The heart may begin to beat irregularly, which is the most common cause of death for cardiac patients. A severe heart attack may also mean that so much muscle dies that the heart will not be able to continue pumping enough blood to keep the patient alive.
It is impossible for a person to know whether either one of these events will occur, but an emergency responder may be able to assess the situation and give an informed suggestion. If such a responder is not available, the patient may need to decide whether to rest or to walk on. Some patients choose to rest for a few minutes and see if the pain resolves at all, in which case the patient may choose to walk on slowly to minimize strain on the heart.
A patient may be tempted to rest until the heart has healed itself, but this can take a number of weeks. Even if enough food and water is available, this may be extremely risky. Moving forward may be required at some point, although the patient may choose to send his or her companions on ahead while he or she rests. This may be successful, but it places the patient at risk of not having a CPR provider available if cardiac arrest occurs.