ISALC: ESL 382: Computer Applications - Fall 2000
Hatchet: Student Survival Guide

This is what I knew about heart attack before reading Hatchet:

What I know about heart attack is the heart stops working because of old age or eating unhealthy food with high cholesterol. Also, heart attack some times happens with shocking news. Fat people have more heart attacks than skinny people. Furthermore, active people, like athletes don't usually get heart attack.

This is why heart attack was important in Hatchet:

When the pilot had a heart attack the adventure in the novel started. Brian had to help the pilot. Also he had to take care of the plane to save himself from the plane crash. He had to think what he should do to survive. In other words all actions in the novel were built on the pilot's heart attack.

After reading Hatchet and completing my Internet research, this is what I have learned about heart attack:

A heart attack happens when the blood that flows to a part of the heart is blocked. This happens when one of the heart arteries that supplies the heart with blood becomes clogged from buildup of congealed blood cells, fat and cholesterol. When this artery is blocked, that is called myocardial infarction and the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins to die.

There are symptoms for heart attacks like : chest pressure, sweating, jaw pain, heartburn/ indigestion, arm pain(more common is left arm), upper back pain, general malaise, nausea, and shortness of breath.

If someone has a heart attack and you see him what should you do?

First, call 911 and follow their instructions. Then, lay him down and lift up his legs. Also make first aid for heart attack (CPR) and help him breathe with an instrument or machine.

If you need more information, visit these web sites:

American Heart Association

Emergency Medicine

Heart Information Network

Medicine Net 

Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 10/20/00