Ten years ago, Rapides Regional Medical Center began “tackling stroke” at area high school football jamborees.
It was to raise awareness of the symptoms of stroke along with the leading risk factors as members of the RRMC Stroke Team distributed hand-held fans to help spectators beat the heat of a Louisiana August night.
The need was and is still great as 800,000 people suffer a stroke each year in the United States. In Louisiana, stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death, and our stroke death rate is the third highest in the country.
“As a certified stroke center, one of our missions is to engage with our community and bring awareness about the warning signs of stroke,” said Rapides Regional Medical Center Stroke Program Coordinator Toni Burton, RN, BS-AN. “This is one of the more important community education events we do each year.”
Rapides Regional colleagues will be distributing fans this Friday night at the jamborees at Pineville High School and Avoyelles High School. Other Tackle Stroke events will be held once the regular season begins: Sept. 5 at Alexandria Senior High and Tioga High School; and Sept. 12 at Menard.
Learning the symptoms of stroke is critical to surviving strokes. They are the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Of the nearly 800,000 people who experience strokes annually, two-thirds are experiencing their first attack.
Risk factors for stroke include hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity and obesity, all of which are more prevalent in Central Louisiana residents than many areas of the country. Knowing the risk factors is critical as 80 percent of all strokes are preventable.
“The quicker someone experiencing a stroke seeks and receives medical treatment, the better the outcome,” said Burton.
The symptoms and warning signs of stroke are best remembered by “BE FAST.”
B – Balance. Do you have loss of balance, a headache or dizziness?
E – Eyes. Do you have blurred vision?
F – Face. Is one side of the face drooping?
A – Arms. Does either arm drift down when raised?
S – Speech. Is speech slurred or confusing?
T – Time. If you observe any of these signs, dial 9-1-1.
The Emergency Department of Rapides Regional Medical Center has been certified an Advanced Primary Stroke Center since 2009 by The Joint Commission. Rapides Regional is also the only local hospital that provides Neurosurgery Coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Time is important when someone is having a stroke so they may receive medical care and the blood-clot busting drug, tPA. Just a few minutes may make the difference in saving a person’s ability to walk or eat.
Rapides Regional Medical Center recently received American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke award for the fifth straight year for its treatment of heart disease and stroke.
For more information on strokes and the certified stroke center at Rapides Regional Medical Center.