There are many super heroes out there. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, people who are simply lending a hand to others. We consider those people super heroes. Many of those super heroes are behind the scenes; they never get recognition for what they do, and that is okay with them. But what if you could be a super hero that saves lives? You might be thinking – wow, that would be a big deal – right? It is much easier than you might think!
May is American Stroke Month, so we’re working with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the Ad Council to raise awareness about Stroke knowledge, prevention, and what to do in an emergency. Stroke is the No. 1 preventable cause of disability – and 80 percent of strokes are preventable! You don’t need superpowers to be a Stroke Hero.
You can be a Stroke Hero by controlling your blood pressure and other risk factors and by knowing F.A.S.T, the warning signs of stroke, so you’re ready to take action and help others know when and how to take action! Only 9% of us can identify all the letters in the F.A.S.T. acronym for stroke. When you recognize a stroke and immediately call 9-1-1, the person has a greater chance of getting to an appropriate hospital quickly and being assessed for treatment options like a clot-busting drug or clot-removing device. How to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. (the warning signs):
- F - Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
- A - Arm Weakness - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S - Speech Difficulty - Is speech slurred? Are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like: “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
- T- Time to call 9-1-1 - If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.
While stroke threatens millions of lives, it is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. Together, we can end stroke. Share this with your family, friends, co-workers and community by sharing on social media. You can share this post or tweet: You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero. Live healthier and know the F.A.S.T. warning signs - StrokeAssociation.org/StrokeHero
Want to get more involved? Join the #StrokeChat hosted by @American_Stroke on 5/18 at 12pm CDT. Stroke experts will join from local AHA/ASA handles coast to coast and we’ll have an engaging conversation about superpowers, the face of stroke, what’s in the news, and give away some swag from NBA All Star Paul George and ALEX AND ANI who just debuted a new bangle honoring stroke survivors.
14 comments:
Great to get people more aware of the signs.
I think it's awesome people are becoming more aware!
It never gets old to read this! I know the more familiar I am with the signs of a stroke, the more helpful I'll be in an emergency. Even though I've studied this topic a lot, I still learn something new each time I review it. This time what stuck with me is to ask the person to raise both of their arms and see if one is drifting downward!
This is great that people notice this
My father has suffered a stroke a few years ago.
It is important to raise awareness of the cause of strokes!
My family has this problem , we are always on watch.
Such an informative post. Thanks for sharing!
very interesting,,everyone should know these signs and symptoms
Excellent tips. Thank you so much for sharing.
I took the stroke quiz. It said I'm a stroke hero.
Thank you for sharing. Passed the test.
Thank you for this informative post.
This is very important information for people to know about.
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