Stroke - First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide

Overview

• Stroke is also called 'Cerebrovascular Accident'
• It is an acute neurological injury
• It may be due to blood clot (ischemic) or bleeding (hemorrhagic)
• Leads to stoppage of blood supply to a part of brain
• Oxygen supply is decreased
• This initiates 'ischemic cascade'-causes brain cell death/damage
• This results in a cerebral stroke

Causes/Risks

• High Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Cigarette smoking
• Heart Disease

Symptoms

• Numbness/weakness of an arm/leg/face/one

  side of body

• Sudden confusion in speaking/understanding speech
• Impaired vision in one or both eyes
• Sudden headache
• Loss of balance/co-ordination
• Dizziness

Treatment

• If you suspect stroke, call emergency medical help
• Reassure the patient
• Lay the patient down with head and shoulders slightly elevated
• If patient is not breathing well do a CPR
• Place the patient on the left side if breathing/not responsive
• Keep the chin slightly extended

Steps To Avoid

• Never give a suspected stroke victim anything to eat/drink
• Do not permit the victim to move

Prevention

• Do regular checkups for BP
• Eat food with less salt
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet
• Take the BP pills regularly