STROKES

Written by Daintre Hart

STROKE

Recognising a stroke

Sometimes the 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 recognise the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognise a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S  Ask the individual to SMILE.

T  Ask the person to TALK, and make a simple
   sentence (eg “it is sunny out today”)

R  Ask him/her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

(Another ‘sign’ of a stroke is to ask the person to stick out their tongue – if it is crooked, goes to one side or the other this is a stroke indicator).

If the person has trouble with any one of these tasks, call for medical help immediately and describe the symptoms.

Recovery

• Sit casualty down and make comfortable (semi-recumbent is best)
• Do not allow to move about
• Help casualty to take their own angina medication
• Reassure the casualty – remove the cause of stress if possible
• If heart attack is suspected and casualty is not allergic to aspirin, allow them to chew a 300mg tablet slowly, record time and dose and report to paramedics on arrival

• Monitor pulse and breathing – be prepared to resuscitate.

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