Can the Adults Please Smoke? - Erratic Eleven — Page 199

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters... S.T.R.



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 getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking ! three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE .

(If the smile is lopsided, a stroke is likely to have occurred.)
T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(If the speech is slurred, a stroke is likely to h ave occurred.)

(Coherently) (i.e It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. !
(If he or she cannot raise one arm, a stroke is likely to have occurred.)

*NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their
tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other,
that is also an indication of a stroke If he or she has trouble with
ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the
symptoms to the dispatcher.

Updated On: 3/7/07 at 09:09 AM