June is Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke continues to be the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in Canada; approximately 1 in 4 people will have a stroke in their lifetime. Which is why every June, for Stroke Awareness Month, the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network wants to provide information on recognizing the signs of a stroke and to act quickly.
Stroke is a medical emergency in which minutes matter. Calling your emergency services number immediately is critical to ensure that the person gets timely care and treatment, potentially avoiding significant disability.
“We need to be aware of the benefits of calling 9-1-1 and the expertise that first responders and paramedics bring to stroke care,” says Dr. Ayman Hassan, Medical Lead for the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network. “They are trained to recognize the signs of stroke and mobilize the patient quickly.”
The FAST acronym is a national public awareness initiative to support stroke identification that does not depend on race, culture, gender or language.
Recognize FAST:
Face – Is it drooping?
Arms – Can you raise both?
Speech – Is it slurred or jumbled?
Time to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
A stroke can be mild, moderate or severe, which is why a FAST evaluation and treatment is required. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is the tertiary center in Northwestern Ontario for Stroke Care, which includes the Regional Stroke Unit and Endovascular treatment (EVT). With the large geographical region, we want people to not to delay, minutes matter,
Calling your emergency number is the quickest and most effective way to get access to acute stroke care. When it comes to stroke treatment, minutes matter, so remember to act FAST.
For more information, visit www.nwostroke.ca.