• Tear in the lining of the major blood vessel of the body
• Symptoms may include pain in the chest, abdomen or back and shortness of breath
• Caused by a weakened area in the lining of the blood vessel which may be related to conditions such as blocked arteries, connective tissue disease, syphilis, high blood pressure and genetic disorders
• Cannot be spread from person to person
• Affects males and females but more common in males
• Can occur during pregnancy
• Life threatening
• Medical emergency

FOR EMERGENCIES

If you are trained in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation):

• Check for pulse and respirations. If both are absent, proceed with CPR as you were trained
• If respirations are absent, but there is a pulse, proceed with rescue breathing as you were trained

If you are not trained in CPR:

• Call emergency services
• If the person is unconscious, begin to push hard and fast on the center of the chest