I too have a [basic] first aid qualification, over simplified to:
simultaneously make sure patient is out of further harms way, is stable,
get help. And nil by mouth.
Obviously the aid offered will vary according to specific circumstances
The advise offered by Joe doesn't really come into that.
It is more in the statistical zone: if you do this to 100 people the
probability of a higher proportion having a favourable outcome is higher,
you just won't know which ones.
Regards
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roger Stoops
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 3:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] 3 Step Method to Recognizing a Stroke (NTC)
Brian's point is well taken. And it is advisable to seek proper medical
attention and advice before administering any type of drug, including
aspirin. I have been certified for First Aid and CPR/AED, and we are
instructed to not offer any kind of drug unless directed by the proper staff
or the patient/victim has a known medical condition that requires
administering of medication, or we have had the proper training. The
symptoms mentioned in the original post could also be attributed to other
causes (not so sure about the tongue thing...).
'Course, I would encourage everyone to get first aid and CPR training. Good
to have the training that could save someone's life, including your own.
Roger
-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brian Ellis
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 8:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] 3 Step Method to Recognizing a Stroke (NTC)
Whoa, Joe, Whereas the diagnosis procedures are fine, the suggested
treatment may do more harm than good. You have to know exactly what you are
doing. I've had two minor strokes and my wife has had one major one.
It should be realised that the word stroke is, medically, almost meaningless
and the symptoms can indicate a number of conditions. The two major ones
are:
1) cerebral infarction. This is usually caused by a lump of plaque breaking
loose from an artery or a thrombotic embolism (e.g., from a deep vein
thrombosis in the leg). This solid matter will be transported into one of
the carotid arteries and then through the branching vessels in the brain
until it gets stuck, thereby restricting the blood supply to part of the
brain. This is more likely in patients, often of a certain age, with a
history of hypertension and/or arteriosclerosis.
Otherwise younger women are more prone than men, sometimes when pregnant.
This is the case where aspirin can help, provided a) the patient is not
taking any anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin) and b) the patient has no stomach
or duodenal ulcers and c) the patient has no allergy or hypersensitivity to
aspirin or its derivatives.
2) cerebral haemmorhage. This happens when a blood vessel in the brain
bleeds. In bad cases, it may be due to an aneurysm. If this happens in a
major artery, then the mortality rate is very high, but a small bleed, such
as may be occasioned by a light physical bump to the head or along the
spine, may affect only a small part of the brain. The treatment here is
often to open the skull and drain the blood to relieve the pressure.
The ***important point*** I wish to make here is that adminstering aspirin
in this case could aggravate the condition and, in the worst case, may even
cause the death of the patient.
If the patient's history is such that it seems likely to be an infarction
and he is conscious, then I would say the risk of giving aspirin is small
and it would probably be of benefit. Otherwise, don't.
And, believe me, the 3 tests you give are by no means absolute. Speaking
from personal experience I could have passed all three after my first
infarction and probably after the second (not so sure about raising the
arms, as my right hand and forearm were paralysed, but the upper arm was
OK). In the case of my wife, she had a major one in the optic nerve but she
could have passed all the tests, except she was ¾ blind.
There are other causes of similar symptoms, other than cerebrovascular
accidents, but they are less likely, as a primary cause, to have a sudden
onset. Brain tumours, for example, are one possibility.
I'm not attacking you for your thoughtfulness but I do feel that it may be
dangerous to be too categorical in applying remedies unless you have a
knowledge of what is likely to be happening.
Brian
Joe Fjelstad wrote:
> I got this from a friend and thought it was worth sharing here. I
> figure if it saves one life it was well worth the small effort...
>
>
>
>
> STROKE: Remembering The 1st Three Steps
>
>
> STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
>
>
> If someone takes a suddenly falls from a moment of dizziness or
> disorientation they may have had a stroke. Some neurologists say that
> if they can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours they can totally
> reverse the effects of a stroke. (Totally is the word used.) They say
> 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
>
> Simply remember the "3" steps, S...T...R .
>
> 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.
>
>
> 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 - Also give
> the individual 2 Aspirins as they will help to thin out there blood...
>
>
> If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 9-1-1
> immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
>
>
> It has been suggested by one doctor that if everyone who receives
> this e-mail sends it to 10 people; it is a good bet that at least one
> life will be saved.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To
> unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
> the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt
> or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET
> Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the
> posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the
> archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please
> visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16
> for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at
> [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To
unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the
BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or
(re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet
NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send
e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of
previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web
site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional
information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100
ext.2815
-----------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16
for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or
847-615-7100 ext.2815
-----------------------------------------------------
***This email, its content and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may be legally privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient please delete and contact the sender by return and delete the material from any computer. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
Messages sent via this medium may be subject to delays, non-delivery and unauthorized alteration. This email has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but Indium Corporation makes no warranty as to accuracy or completeness. In particular, Indium Corporation does not accept responsibility for changes made to this email after it was sent. Any opinions or recommendations expressed herein are solely those of the author. They may be subject to change without notice.***
---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
-----------------------------------------------------
|
