STROKE IDENTIFICATION:  [also Heart Attack (Self Help)]

 During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little  fall - she assured  everyone that  she was fine (they offered to call  paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up,  Ingrid went about  enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ.  Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.  Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition
instead.
 
 It only takes a minute to read this...

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:
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 asking three simple questions: (Remember the first 3 letters of STROKE)

S   Ask the individual to SMILE.
T   Ask the person to TALK to speak a simple sentence coherently.  (e.g. it is
     sunny out today).

R   Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

 

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 999 immediately and describe  the symptoms to  the dispatcher.
 
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you  can bet that at least one life will be  saved.

Received by email from Irene & John Plunkett - Wide Beam Boat 'Moet Chandon'