What should you do to monitor a person suspected of having a heart attack until help arrives?

Monitoring a person suspected of having a heart attack involves paying close attention to their vital signs and ensuring their comfort while waiting for medical help to arrive. Vital signs encompass indicators such as heart rate, breathing rate, and responsiveness, which can provide crucial information about the individual's condition.

Ensuring the person's comfort is equally important as it helps to alleviate anxiety and stress, which can exacerbate their condition. By maintaining an environment that fosters calmness, you can assist the individual in managing their symptoms until professional medical responders can take over their care.

The other options are not conducive to a situation where someone may be experiencing a heart attack. Keeping a person active or busy with conversation can increase physical and emotional stress, possibly worsening their condition. Additionally, it is best to keep them away from food until they are assessed by medical personnel, as eating could pose risks if surgery or specific interventions are needed. Thus, monitoring vital signs and comfort is the most appropriate response in this scenario.