READER LETTER: Remembering FAST during May

The Journal-Register

May 29, 2008 05:34 pm

— Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer every year. Despite being the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in this country, fewer than one in five Americans can recognize a symptom of a stroke. Stroke can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender or race. May is National Stroke Awareness month and Lakeside Hospital, a New York State Designated Stroke Center, wants to help our community save a life by creating awareness of stroke symptoms.
Four out of five American families will be touched by stroke, but the good news is that up to 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented. Time to treatment is critical, so it is important to know stroke symptoms in order to seek immediate medical treatment. These are the critical things to look for:
F = FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = ARM: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = TIME: If you observe any of these signs, then it’s time to call 911.
Remember FAST. These simple checks could save the life of loved one. For more information on stroke and stroke prevention, visit the Lakeside Web site at www.lakesidehealth.org or visit www.stroke.org.
Dr. Steven Wolfe
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine
Lakeside Memorial Hospital, Brockport