Brightshores Health System is sharing information on how to quickly recognize if someone is having a stroke.
June is Stroke Awareness Month, and Brightshores is sharing a method to help everyone recognize the signs of stroke using the FAST method. FAST stands for face, arms, speech and time.
The acronym is meant to help people quickly assess the telltale signs of stroke.
FAST essentially means:
F – Face: Is it drooping?
A – Arms: Can both arms be raised?
S – Speech: Is it slurred or jumbled?
T – Time: Call 911 immediately
An informational release from Brightshores points out that up to 80 per cent of strokes are preventable through healthy behaviours such as staying active, eating well, quitting smoking, and managing blood pressure.
As the region’s District Stroke Centre, Brightshores Owen Sound Hospital provides a full range of specialized services, including:
Emergency Stroke Care: Rapid diagnosis and treatment, including advanced brain imaging and clot-busting medications
Stroke Prevention Clinic: Follow-up care to reduce risk of recurrence
Acute Stroke Unit: Specialized in-hospital care by stroke experts
Inpatient Rehabilitation: Therapy-focused recovery
Community Stroke Rehab: Ongoing support and therapy at home
"Brightshores has the experience and expertise needed to support patients across their care journey," shared Rebecca Wuerth-Sarvis, Director of Critical Care, Stroke, Rehab and Allied Health. "And as a member of the Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network, we’re committed to leadership in stroke care."
For more information about stroke services, visit: brightshores.ca/stroke-centre.
