Get Involved and Informed this National Stroke Day
When a stroke strikes, every second counts. In the time it takes you to read this post, about 50 people on the planet will have experienced a stroke or early signs. That’s because one occurs about every two seconds worldwide.
Luckily, by the time you finish reading this post, you’ll also be equipped with the knowledge to quickly identify and jump into action to help a stranger or loved one who is experiencing the symptoms.
As National Stroke Day approaches on October 29, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are challenging individuals to spread the word about secondary stroke prevention and treatment. By working together for one day, we can help fight stroke 365 days a year.
Act F.A.S.T to save a life
A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. Knowing what to do in these precious moments can make all the difference between recovery and disability.
The American Stroke Association suggests remembering these four symptoms so you can act F.A.S.T. and help an individual in need:
Face Drooping
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided?
Arm Weakness
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech Difficulty
Is the person’s speech slurred or difficult to understand? Ask him or her to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the person able to correctly repeat the words?
Time to Call 911
If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and say, “I think this is a stroke” to help get the person to the hospital immediately. Time is important! Don’t delay, and also note the time when the first symptoms appeared. Emergency responders will want to know.
Stroke can affect women and men of every age, race and ethnicity. But about 80 percent of them are preventable. By lowering your risks, and encouraging your loved ones to do the same, we can do our part to decrease the risk of stroke this National Stroke Day and beyond.
Covenant HealthCare is a Primary Stroke Center – which means our program meets the rigorous standards of, and is accredited by, the Health Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) as a Primary Stroke Care Program. We’ve also been named an American Heart Association Gold Plus Award Winner. This award recognizes hospitals who demonstrate at least 85 percent of the Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Achievement Measures.
Learn more about our extraordinary stroke physicians, treatments and protocol.
Posted Date: 10/26/2017