Stroke is the third leading cause of death. Prompt recognition of stroke by lay persons and EMS professionals is critical for stroke patients to receive timely hospital stroke assessment and intervention. There are several acronyms to remember the indicators to assess if a patient is having a stroke. Each acronym is a similar assessment of […]
Today is World Stroke Day. The purpose of this day is “to communicate a unified message to the world: stroke is a preventable and treatable catastrophe, and together we can fight this growing epidemic.” Learn more about World Stroke Day from the World Stroke Organization. All EMS Professionals should know the signs and symptoms of […]
Stroke symptoms – facial droop, one-sided weakness, inability to speak – are fairly easy to recognize with prehospital stroke assessment tools. More and more EMS providers are going to be asked by patient’s family members or caregivers or directed by protocols to transport stroke patients to a designated stroke center. What does it mean for […]
May is National Stroke Awareness month, making it a good time for EMS providers to remember the active role they should be playing in stroke awareness and prevention. Read more on improving stroke awareness and prevention in a recent Everyday EMS Tips column at EMS1.com.
The National Stroke Awareness Month promotes the F.A.S.T. Stroke assessment for lay persons to determine if stroke signs are present. F = FACE Ask person to smile. Look for one-sided facial droop. A = ARMS Ask person to raise their arms. Look to see if one arm drifts downward. S = SPEECH Ask person to […]
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. As a paramedic, stroke is the illness that worries me the most when I think about the health of my aging parents and in-laws. EMS providers can play an active role in stroke awareness and prevention by following these Everyday EMS Tips. 1) Teach all patients and community members […]