Published: May 24, 2016 | Updated: January 31, 2023
Medical experts stress the importance of calling 911 if you think you are having a stroke. Unfortunately, research has found that about one-third of people experiencing symptoms do not arrive by ambulance or air ambulance.
But did you know that the paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are in constant communication with the emergency department while en route to the hospital?
Patients who arrive by ambulance not only have expert medical attention during their transport but also experience shorter pre-hospital and in-hospital delays. This is the result of communication between medical professionals in the ambulance with nurses and physicians at the hospital who are awaiting the patient’s arrival.
See firsthand how it works. Follow medical professionals in the field as they receive a call about someone experiencing the signs of a stroke. Watch how paramedics, EMTs, physicians and nurses move the patient through the process of diagnosis and transport to Norton Brownsboro Hospital, a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
</p> <h5>Do you know your risk for stroke?</h5> <p>Take our<br /> Stroke Risk Assessment</p> <h5>Do you know the signs of a stroke? BE FAST</h5> <p>If you think someone might be having a stroke, remember to BE FAST to get help:</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Balance</strong>: Is the person having trouble walking? Do they have a loss of balance or coordination or dizziness?</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Eyes</strong>: Is the person having trouble seeing? Has the person had a change in vision in one or both eyes?</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Face</strong>: Ask the person to smile. Does the smile look even? Warning sign – One side of the face does not move as well as the other.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Arms</strong>: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drop down? Warning sign – One arm does not move, or one arm drifts.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Speech</strong>: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence such as, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Does the person have trouble speaking or seem confused? Warning sign – The person slurs words or cannot speak.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Time</strong>: Call 911 immediately; time lost = brain lost. Let emergency responders know the last time you saw the person well. More advanced treatment options may be available if medical care is received within three hours of the start of symptoms.</p> <p><strong>Another symptom could be a sudden, very severe headache</strong></p> <p>Remembering these steps could save the life of someone you care about.</p> <p><sub>Adapted from Intermountain Healthcare. BE FAST was developed by Intermountain Healthcare, as an adaptation of the FAST model implemented by the American Stroke Association. Reproduced with permission from Intermountain Healthcare. Copyright 2011, Intermountain Healthcare.</sub></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>
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