RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Subject: The three steps of identifying a stroke....

*STROKE IDENTIFICATION:*

This story could happen to you or someone you know:

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Some neurologists say that if they can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours they can reverse the effects of a stroke...often totally. The trick is getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed an getting the patient hospitalized within 3 hours which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (example: Is it sunny out today?)

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately, describe the symptoms to the dispatcher and get them to a doctor.

Be a friend and share this article with as many friends as possible, you could save their life.

'Live Long and Prosper'

CoffeeCops