Recognizing a Stroke

Excellent Safety Tips

During a BBQ Jane (not her real name) stumbled and took a little fall. She assured everyone that she was fine and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They offered to call paramedics. They got her cleaned up and brought her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Jane’s husband called later telling us that his wife had been taken to the hospital.

At 6:00 p.m., Jane passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had someone there known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Jane would be with us today.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was recognizing a possible stroke, diagnosing it, and getting the patient medical attention within 3 hours.

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness can spell 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 the victim three simple questions:

1. Ask the person to smile.

2. Ask the person to raise both arms.

3. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence coherently. For example, “It is sunny out today.”

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

After learning that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness, and speech problems, researchers have urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last year.

Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this article sends it to 10 people you can bet that at least one life will be saved. Be a friend and share this article with as many friends as possible, you could save their lives.

Learn and remember the "3 Questions.”

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.

1. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

2. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car.

3. The alarm will be set off and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

• It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation.

• Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

• If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around... After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

• And, remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there...

• Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone.