S*T*R

If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION: 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
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR.

Read and Learn..! 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 by asking three simple questions:

S*
- Ask the individual to SMILE

T*
- Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
( i.e. . . It is sunny out today)

R*
- Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks then it is an indication of a stroke...

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.

Sahre this information with as many as possible; you can bet that at least one life will be saved...