May is stroke awareness month and since today is the last day of the month, I wanted to get something posted. I wanted to write out a long moving post but I got nothin'. But.. I wanted to re-share our story to remind people to know the signs. Know that many young people suffer from strokes. Trust your instincts. If something seems off, ask questions. Don't let them rest. Get help FAST.
Use FAST to remember the warning signs:
F: Face - Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A: Arms - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T: Time - If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.
An interesting fact that I have read is that only 3% of stroke victims can get the TPA treatment because most people do not get to a hospital in time to have it administered. Every minute that passes increases your chances of having a residual effects from the stroke. Side effects that could be debilitating and lifelong.
I am so thankful that I trusted my gut and called 911 quickly when Chris had his stroke. Our future could have been drastically different had he not received treatment as quickly as he did.
1 comment:
Thank you for the reminder! It's so scary!
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