RECOGNIZING A STROKE

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: 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 for an ambulance 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.