Three Steps to Recognizing a Stroke = S.T.R.

 

Remembering the first 3 letters of the work STROKE = S.T.R. could be a lifesaver for a loved one or even a stranger you may encounter.  Strokes are interruptions of the blood supply to any part of the brain, resulting in damaged brain tissue.  Each year an estimated 600,000 Americans experience strokes, of these victims, 160,000die, making stroke the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S.  Those who survive can have debilitating effects like speech, movement and even thought.

 

It only takes a minute to ask:

 

S =      Ask the person to SMILE

 

T =      Ask the person to TALK (speak a simple sentence like “The sun is shining

today”)

 

R =     Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS and hold them up for a short period of time.

 

A bystander may be able to spot someone having a stroke by giving the person this simple, quick test to see if they can smile, raise both arms and keep them up, and speak a simple sentence coherently according to a report presented at the February, 2007 American Stroke Association’s 28th International Stroke Conference in San Francisco, CA.  The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association.

 

The test, which takes less than one minute, has helped healthcare professionals accurately identify stroke patients.  If bystanders can relay results of this test to an emergency dispatcher, it could speed treatment to stroke patients.  Time is crucial in treating stroke.

 

If a person fails any of the 3 steps, call 911 immediately.

 

 

Some information reprinted from the following website:

http://strokeconference.americanheart.org/portal/strokeconference/sc/release22003