Timely Stroke Care
With Strokes, Acting Fast Makes All the Difference
A stroke is a sudden loss of blood supply to the brain due either to arterial blockage or internal bleeding. It can result in brain damage and loss of bodily functions, including paralysis, blurred vision, and speech and gait impairment. Strokes are medical emergencies that call for immediate treatment in order to save brain function and lives.
While COVID-19 has brought with it natural fears about leaving home and visiting a hospital, Baptist Health has implemented rigorous infection control protocols in its facilities in order to support the safety and treatment of all patients, including those experiencing symptoms of stroke. If you are experiencing these symptoms, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.
What Are the Symptoms of a Stroke?
Strokes can have a number of symptoms, including:
- Face drooping to one or both sides
- Arm weakness
- Slurred or mumbled speech
These symptoms are sometimes summarized by the acronym F-A-S-T. The T stands for “Time to call 9-1-1”. Other common warning signs of a stroke include:
- Numbness
- Confusion
- Difficulty seeing
- Difficulty walking
- Sudden onset of a severe headache
What Should I Do If Someone Is Having a Stroke?
If you have reason to believe that someone is having a stroke, you should treat it as a medical emergency. Please:
- Call 9-1-1, or
- Take that person to the nearest medical emergency facility.
Don't Delay Care for Stroke Symptoms
While it is natural to have worries about your safety in the time of a pandemic, Baptist Health assures you that we have taken strict measures to support your safety within our facilities. With stroke care, you are safest under the immediate care of a medical team. Acting fast to secure that care can mean brain, and lives, saved.