Know the signs of a stroke

As national Stroke Awareness Month kicks-off, the National Stroke Association estimates nearly 800,000 people across the country will experience a stroke this year, and local first responders are hoping to get one important message out.

Pocatello Fire Department EMT and paramedic Pat McCullough said emergency crews responded to 126 stroke calls in Bannock County this past year, alone.

“Although not all of them turned out to be stroke victims, most of them were, so it’s prevalent,” McCullough said.

He added, it’s crucial for everyone to know the signs of a stroke, since often times some of these signs can be mistaken for someone just being tired.

Here’s what to look for:

– Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body;

– Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding;

– Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;

– Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination;

– Sudden severe headache with no known cause

He advised remembering the acronym, “FAST” which stands for: Facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and time to call emergency services.

And take it from an EMT, if you think someone could be experiencing a stroke, don’t hesitate to call 911. He said, stroke victims only have about 90 minutes to get to the hospital to be treated with a drug called Alteplase, which acts as a clot-buster. After that window, patients could be facing long-term paralysis.

He advised, after calling 911, sit the patient down and make sure their airway is cleared.

While strokes can have a sudden impact, McCullough added, there are precursors to look out for.

“Hypertension or high blood pressure can lead to a stroke. A lot of times people don’t know they have it or they haven’t been treated for it,” he said.

Also, inactivity, such as sitting for a long period of time could tempt those dangerous blood clots that lead to a stroke.

He also mentioned that, while it’s possible for a stroke to happen at most ages, first responders see it most commonly in elderly patients.

To find out more information, you can visit the National Stroke Association’s website here: http://www.stroke.org/understand-stroke/recognizing-stroke/signs-and-symptoms-stroke