Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is one of the leading causes of death among adults and is a much-feared medical emergency. It is estimated that someone suffers from stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies every four minutes. Every year, stroke causes around 137,000 
deaths, the third leading cause of death.
Not all types of strokes can be prevented, so it is essential to recognize its early symptoms and get appropriate treatment rapidly. Stroke can cause irreparable damage to the brain, but the long term effects can be minimized by getting immediate medical treatment or getting to the emergency room.
The material posted on this blog is for information purposes only. To learn about recognizing strokes and providing care enrol in first aid training.
Warning Signs of Stroke
Everyone should learn how to recognize early signs of stroke. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 or have someone drive you to the emergency room immediately:
- weakness in hand, leg or arm
- sudden difficulty speaking
- numbness on one side of the body
- sudden loss of vision or dimness, especially in one side of the eye
- dizziness or loss of coordination and balance
- sudden, excruciating headache
- inability to understand words.
Managing stroke victims
The importance of recognizing and treating a stroke immediately cannot be overemphasized. Early signs of stroke may be noticed few minutes or hours, and even days, before a stroke. A study reveals that majority of people do not know the early signs of CVA. Everyone, especially the high risk population, should know these warning and signs and know how to deal with them.
Act FAST
Act FAST is a simple checklist prepared by the National Stroke Society that you can use to determine whether a person is suffering from a CVA. If you answered yes to any of these questions, the person is most likely having a stroke.
| Face | Instruct the person to smile. Does the face droop to one side? |
| Arms | Instruct the person to raise both arms. Does either of the arms drift downward? |
| Speech | Instruct the person to repeat after you. Is there slurring? Does he/she find it difficult or fail to repeat the sentence correctly? |
| Time | If you answered yes to any of these questions, then time is crucial. Call 911 immediately or get to the emergency department. Every second lost can cause damage to the brain. |
When a person shows warning signs of stroke, rapid action is essential. Make sure you call 911 immediately or bring the victim to the hospital, preferably one that has rapid response stroke facilities. If you are at high risk for stroke, know about the nearest healthcare facility that specializes in treating acute stroke.
Most hospitals are equipped with safe, rapid and effective diagnostic technologies that can accurately identify the location and extent of a stroke and the causative factor. The immediate goal is to restore blood circulation and prevent damage of brain tissue. Time is critical in achieving this goal. As much as possible, treatment should be initiated within 60 minutes of the early symptoms of stroke. This prevents significant brain damage that often causes long-term disabilities.
Learn More
Learn the basic skills to save a life by taking workplace approved first aid and CPR courses (enrol here). Ensure that you enrol with a credible provider.
Related Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ODJGyFwl2k