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Think FAST to Recognize a Stroke
If you suspect someone is having a Stroke dial 911. At Boston Medical Center follow your departments emergence medical protocol: call a Code Stroke 4-7777 or proceed out 4-7777.
About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke.
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious long term disability costing the US $33 Billion dollars each year.
37% of all Americans cannot accurately identify even one warning sign for stroke. Can you?
Why do you need to know how to identify a stroke? Recognizing a stroke can save a life.
What is a stroke? Sometimes called a brain attack, stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain can become damaged, or die. Two types of stroke: Blood clot (ischemic) most common!; Bleeding (hemorrhagic). A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
A TIA (trans ischemic attack) is also known as mini-stroke, or a warning stroke. A TIA can temporarily produce stroke like symptoms. This type of stroke is also an emergency and requires medical attention. A TIA presents an opportunity to make lifestyle changes to prevent stroke.
Every single minute that the blood supply to the brain is blocked or there is bleeding in the brain causes further damage, causing long term disability affecting things like walking and talking. The longer the person waits to get medical help, the worse the outcome.
You can recognize a stroke FAST! FAST is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of a stroke. When you spot even one sign, you’ll know quickly that you need to call the emergency response protocol for your area.
FAST - Is it a stroke? Check these signs FAST! Face - does the face look uneven? Arm - or does one arm drift down? Speech - or does their speech sound strange? Time - then its time to call 911.
Face: Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven? Does one side of the face droop?
Arm - Is one arm weak? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down? Even slightly?
Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Such as: The sky is blue in Boston. Are they having trouble speaking? Finding words, slurring words, Garbled speech - Is the person having difficulty understanding simple commands?
Time - If the person has any one of these signs, (even if the signs go away) then it is time to call for immediate medical help. Stroke is an emergency. Remember every single minute that passes reduces the persons chance for a good outcome.
FAST is: Face, Arm, Speech, Time.
REMEMBER: If you Suspect Someone is having a Stroke, At Boston Medical Center follow your departments emergency medical protocol Call a Code Stroke 4-7777, or Proceed out 4-7777; Outside of BMC, dial 911
Unsure? Call anyway! Don’t wait! False alarms are ok!
Summary - With a stroke, acting fast is very important! The FAST acronym is a quick way to recognize stroke symptoms. If you suspect a stroke (even if you are not sure) call for immediate help! At Boston Medical Center follow your departments emergency medical protocol: Call a Code Stroke 4-7777, or Proceed out 4-7777; Outside of BMC, dial 911.
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Boston Medical Center

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is a 514-bed academic medical center located in Boston's historic South End, providing medical care for infants, children, teens and adults.

One Boston Medical Center Place
Boston, MA 02118
617.638.8000

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