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When stroke strikes, you can help updated 11/12/01
1) Quickly identify signs of a stroke*Sudden lack of symmetry in smile and grip and arm strength - check all 3
Right and left sides respond differently when there is a stroke
AND over 45 years old
AND no history of seizure or epilepsy
2) Quickly drive the probable victim to a stroke center,
not just the nearest hospital
Most hospitals lack the special scanning equipment to properly diagnose and treat strokes.
In Washington, Harborview Hospital in Seattle has the only
stroke center in the state.
Other stroke centers are listed at:
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/stroke/stroke-centers.htm
Keep the victim
cool and sitting upright in your vehicle - open the window or turn on air conditioning.
Even if the stroke symptoms disappear, take the person to the stroke
center - they've probably had a mini-stroke
3) Do not call 911
if you suspect a stroke
Except, do call 911 if you can't drive the victim
OR the victim is in a wheelchair or bedridden
OR you are more than a 2
hour drive from a stroke center
911 Emergency Medical Services will usually take a possible stroke victim to the nearest
hospital rather than a stroke center, which is likely to be farther away.
Emergency Medical
Service
basic training does not include
treatment of stroke victims, who may be incorrectly treated by being given
oxygen, etc.
*
Basis of stroke
signs: Los Angeles Stroke Screen
12 stroke facts
- Of the 700,000 U.S. annual stroke victims, 1/3 die, 1/3 are disabled, and 1/3 recover
- An American is 10,000 times more likely to get a stroke than to get anthrax
- Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US
- Stroke is a primary cause of disability in the US
- Stroke is the primary reason that people enter US nursing homes
- Prevent a stroke by decreasing: smoking, weight, alcohol
- Stroke occurrence doubles every decade after age 55
- 1/3 of strokes hit people under age 65. Example: Sharon Stone got a stroke at age 43
- Cooling the brain by even 1 degree greatly reduces the consequences of a stroke
- There appear to be no stroke questions on the EMT-Basic exam
- Lifetime cost of a stroke is $91,000 average and $365,000 for those 45 years old
- Just being treated at a stroke center increases the chance of survival by 30%
www.Skyaid.org – has a goal of saving 100,000 people
annually
from death due to stroke, heart attack and injury.
more Stroke information http://www.skyaid.org/Skyaid%20Org/Medical/Stroke.htm