Act FAST When a Stroke Strikes!
Act FAST When a Stroke Strikes Provided by the Stroke Center at Raritan Bay Medical Center
Every year as part of Raritan Bay Medical Center’s community outreach efforts, done in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s National Go Red for Women day (held on the first Friday of February), the medical center provides free blood pressure screenings and stroke information on “Go Red” day. Stroke education is important because too many women die or become disabled each year from stroke and heart disease, the number three and number one killers of women. As proud supporters of the “Go Red” campaign, we want to spread the word to women about living heart healthy, getting regular heart screenings and identifying stroke.
Stroke symptoms come on suddenly. When they occur, it’s important to get medical help quickly. Fast action can reduce your chance of death or serious disability, such as paralysis. Be prepared by remembering FAST. The clot-busting drug TpA can reduce a stroke’s after-effects. But TpA is only effective when administered within three hours of onset of symptoms of the most common kind of stroke, so individuals should get to the hospital quickly. The acronym FAST can be a very helpful reminder of how to identify stroke, remember these tips:
F is for facial drooping. Your face feels numb or frozen, especially on one side.
A is for arm weakness, especially on one side.
S is for speech problems. You can’t speak or understand properly.
T is for time to call 911; the faster you get treatment, the less damage to your brain.
Phone 911 or have someone call an ambulance for you immediately, even if your symptoms disappear. You could be having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke. This is a warning sign that you might have a full stroke. Treating TIA may help prevent a stroke in the future. Also, be aware that women are more likely than men to report unusual stroke symptoms, such as sudden nausea or pain in the face, arm, or leg.
RBMC is a New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services designated primary stroke center and a recipient of the American Heart Association’s Get with the GuidelinesSM – Silver Stroke Performance Achievement Award. The medical center is providing free blood pressure screening and stroke education events, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., at eight local YMCAs; including Raritan Bay Area (in Perth Amboy), Woodbridge, Edison, Metuchen, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Sayreville and South Amboy.
Click on the following link to see other upcoming events sponsored by Raritan Bay Medical Center.
http://www.rbmc.org/calendar-events/
Raritan Bay Area 357 New Brunswick Avenue Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Sayreville 333 Cheesequake Road Parlin, NJ 08859
Woodbridge 600 Main Street Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Edison 1775 Oak Tree Road Edison, NJ 08820
Metuchen 65 High Street Metuchen, NJ 08840
South Amboy 200 John T. O'Leary Blvd. South Amboy, NJ 08879
East Brunswick 144 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Old Bridge 1 Mannino Park Old Bridge, NJ 08857
