Recognizing the problem is the first step...

Well, something like that anyway--maybe it's admitting the problem in some cases, but in possible medical emergencies, I'm sticking with recognition as a vital initial occurence. I received an e-mail the other day on how to recognize if someone is having a stroke. According to this e-mail, at least one neurologist has stated that the effects of a stroke can be reversed if it's caught early enough. The problem is catching it early on, and for that, you need to know what you're looking for. A stroke is an emergency, and must be dealt with immediately if you want to avoid further emergencies resulting from increased medical problems, ongoing care, and the financial emergencies that would accompany such circumstances. So, I am justifying posting this under emergency preparedness because knowledge is one of the best things that you can "store" to both avoid and deal with emergencies.

Here is a portion of the e-mail cut and pasted (gotta love that feature) and then spaced the way I like it (sometimes presentation is everything :) :


INFORMATION EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW........................

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 and 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, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other,that is also an indication of a stroke.

I checked this information out at www.snopes.com, which reportedly separates rumor from fact, and their entry on information like that in this e-mail is here. While their entry concerning it is longer, they confirm these facts, while pointing out that the "crooked tongue factor" is not as easily determined as the first three. But the first three are easy to identify, so if someone's having problems, time is of the essence to have it checked out...

Thanks to whomever decided to get the word out about strokes--I'd give credit if I knew who was responsible. Hope we never have to use it, but information like this could make a big difference in someone's life if they are having a stroke---knowledge can be a very powerful tool when time is a factor in dealing with emergencies--you know, useful knowledge is just a good thing to have all around as part of our emergency preparation... :)