What To Do In An Emergency Situation Like Stroke?

More and more people suffer and die daily from the fatal incident of stroke. If you are a loved one with a relative suffering from chronic hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia and heart disease they are at higher risk of having a stroke[heart stroke].

Knowing what to do will do a lot of favor and your loved ones lives may be saved. This is not, however, to replace the training needed in the treatment of the emergency situation, but a quick management before reaching the hospital and be given the proper attention by professional health providers.

The brain can only survive for more than two to three minutes without Oxygen and have no permanent damage, otherwise if it is more than three minutes the effect could be an irreversible brain death and in most cases clinical death of the victim.

If you have relatives and loved ones with the following signs of an impending stoke, it would be best to advice them to seek immediate consultation to a health professional.

Symptoms include weakness or paralysis of one side of the body that could be partial (leg or arm only) or complete (both arms and legs) loss of sensation; difficulty or loss of speech; weak facial muscles seen as drooping eyelids or drooping tongue, mouth or lips; numbness or tingling sensation in the arms or legs, loss of balance, vision problems, difficulty of breathing and swallowing and in most cases loss of consciousness.

What are the things you need to remember when a stroke is suspected?

  • First thing to do is have the victim lie flat on his back paying close attention to the airway making sure nothing is blocking it. While doing this have someone call 911 immediately.
  • Check if there is breathing and pulse. If breathing is weak, you may tilt the head to open the airway. If there are secretions tilt the head upwards then sideways to remove the mucous.
  • If there is absence of breathing and pulse and you know how to do CPR this is the best time to perform it while waiting for the rescue team.
  • Stay with the victim and observe for any seizure symptoms that will be asked when the physician makes the assessment of the victim.
  • If the victim is having seizures, do not restrain but be sure to keep accidents like fall to happen especially if the patient is on the bed.
  • Use a piece of small cloth to make a padded teaspoon or tongue depressor and place it between the upper and lower teeth of the victim to prevent choking and accidental biting of his tongue.
  • Remember to do this in a quick and efficient manner keeping the time in mind while waiting for proper help.

In medical emergencies this is called the ABC Management or the “golden window”, when management is not done in matter of minutes it may mean the resulting death of the victim.