EMS Warnings Signs of Stroke Awareness
by Jane Beckham
As the warning signs of a stroke are being better understood and awareness increases, changes are also being made within emergency medical services (EMS) systems across the country. Getting treatment to a stroke victim as quickly as possible is paramount to their survival.
The Emergency Medical Services has introduced a number of changes through improved education, increased awareness of paramedics and studies of stroke care throughout the country.
The warning signs of stroke symptoms include:
A sudden and unexplained weakness or numb feeling in the face, all down one side of the body, or in one arm or leg.
Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye.
Difficulty in talking and in understanding when being spoken to, or even complete loss of speech. A lot of stroke victims report that they are aware that something (quite frightening) is happening to them, but they either can't manage to speak to tell anyone about it, or when they do speak, their words are undistinguishable and mumbled.
Sudden severe headaches with no apparent cause.
Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially with any of the other symptoms mentioned above.
The package being introduced by the EMS is aimed at educating and empowering everybody who plays any role within the realm of supporting a stroke victim. From call handlers, to paramedics, to medical staff, and even the scientists and research staff. The end result is a system that can get the support to a victim as quickly as possible to ensure their chances of stroke recovery are as high as possible.
A recent study by the Central New York EMS program found the average person who had a stroke waited nearly 2 hours before calling for assistance. EMS has attempted to fight this delay by becoming more aggressive with public education on stroke warning signs and symptoms and urging patients to call 911 or the their EMS for assistance at the first signs of stroke.
The emergency services have streamlined protocols and processes for dealing with stroke victims, but it's vital that they get the call for help as quickly as possible. Paramedics have the knowledge and training to administer appropriate support to stroke victims "at the scene" which again greatly increases the chances for recovery.
They are able to assess patients on the spot and make informed judgements due to their knowledge of stroke symptoms, and are able to make detailed reports to physicians and medical departments on route to hospital. The end result is a very streamlined and efficient service for identifying signs of a stroke, managing the stroke symptoms and increasing the odds of survival and recovery for the victim.
The odds of stroke recovery and even survival decrease the longer it takes to get a patient the necessary medical treatment they need. And with the rate of stroke attacks increasing every year, it's vital that we all understand the signs of stroke and are better able to help someone should we ever find ourselves in that situation.
Jane Beckham, a health consultant, helps people with their stroke recovery. Identifying the warning signs of stroke are crucial for best chance of stroke recovery. Find her site at Stroke Recovery Get your own completely unique content version of this article.
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