How do you tell a patient you are calling for help in Spanish?

Use "Voy a llamar a la ambulancia" (I am going to call the ambulance) or "La ayuda viene en camino" (Help is on the way). Speak calmly and use the formal "usted" form.

How do you say "heart attack" in Spanish?

The most common term is "ataque al corazón." Clinically, "infarto" (or "infarto al miocardio") is also widely used and patients in many regions understand both.

Emergency Room Spanish Vocabulary

In an emergency, fast, clear communication can save a life. These are the highest-priority Spanish terms and phrases for first responders, ED clinicians, and ICU teams.

English	Spanish	Audio
emergency	la emergencia
emergency room	la sala de emergencias
ambulance	la ambulancia
heart attack	el ataque al corazón / infarto
stroke	el derrame cerebral / accidente cerebrovascular
seizure	la convulsión / el ataque
bleeding	el sangrado / la hemorragia
severe bleeding	sangrado severo
difficulty breathing	dificultad para respirar
loss of consciousness	pérdida de conocimiento
allergic reaction	reacción alérgica
anaphylaxis	anafilaxia
fracture	la fractura
shock	el shock / choque
overdose	la sobredosis
Can you hear me?	¿Me escucha?
Squeeze my hand.	Apriete mi mano.
Stay with me.	Quédese conmigo.
Help is coming.	La ayuda viene en camino.

Using these terms with patients

Keep commands to two or three words under stress: "Apriete mi mano", "No se mueva", "Mírame".
"Ataque" alone is ambiguous — it can mean a seizure or a heart attack. Say "ataque al corazón" or "convulsión" explicitly.
Ask the interpreter question early even in an emergency: "¿Quiere un intérprete?" A rushed English handoff is where consent problems begin.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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