email-chain readers...

Some good information to share.
 

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three  Letters...
 
 
My friend sent  this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the word.
I  agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could  save
some folks.
 
Please read:

STROKE  IDENTIFICATION:
During a BB Q, a friend stumbled and took a  little fall - she assured
everyone that she was fine (they  offered to call paramedics) and just
tripped over a brick  because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and
got her a  new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid
went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's  husband
called later telling everyone that his wife had been  taken to the hospital
- (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had  suffered a stroke at the BBQ.
Had they known how to identify the  signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would
be with us today. Some  don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless
condition  instead.

It only takes a minute to read  this...

A  neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3  hours he
can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally.  He said the trick
was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed,  and then getting the patient
medically cared for within 3 hours,  which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember  the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult  to identify. Unfortunately,
the lack of awareness spells  disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe
brain damage when  people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
 
Now  doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three  simple
questions:
S  *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T  *Ask the person to  TALK . to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out  today)
R  *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
 

{NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask  the person to 'stick' out
their tongue... if the tongue is  'crooked', if it goes to one side or the
other that is also an  indication of a stroke}
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these  tasks, call 9-1-1
immediately and describe the symptoms to the  dispatcher.

A  cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to  10
people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.