Immediate Actions to Take in Case of a Brain Stroke

General Health


A stroke is a condition that requires quick response due to the increased chances of death in this kind of event. A stroke results in the getting cut of blood supply to the brain and the brain’s cells start to lack both oxygen and nutrients. Failing to address the condition early, one may suffer from a loss of movement or sensation, impaired speech or vision or even get a fatal blow and die. The communities and the person affected should consider these symptoms to early detect the disease and seek medical attention as this will help in improving the results. Read on to learn some practical steps that you should take when you have a feeling that somebody is having a stroke.


1. Recognize the Symptoms of a Stroke

This is the case since there are clear signs and symptoms of a stroke, which everyone needs to identify to address this condition. Again it means the sooner one could tell that someone is having a stroke the better it will be as prompt action would be taken. The FAST acronym is a useful tool to remember all the primary symptoms:


  • F – Facial weakness: It will be tested by asking the person to smile. Do they have difficulty lifting their arm above their shoulder on the opposite side and does one side of their face droop or become numb?

  • A-Arm Weakness: Checking the patient and asking him to raise both of his arms. Does one arm get listless or does not have enough power?

  • S – Speech Difficulty: Read a simple sentence and convey the same to the person to speak. Is their speech slurred or have they developed difficulty in speaking in one or the other?

  • T – The need to call an ambulance: If any of these symptoms are present, one should call the ambulance. Time is critical.


The other signs that should not go unnoticed include:

  • Received abruptness or difficulty in comprehending spoken language

  • One day I lost vision in one or both eyes(hr) Random vision loss in one or several eyes

  • Relating to walking, new onset of difficulty in walking, dizziness, or loss of balance


2. Call Emergency Services Immediately

If the following points are noticed on the face, arm, or speech of someone then it should be assumed that the person is having a stroke and an immediate call should be made to the emergency services (911 or the emergency number of the country you are residing in). Never take the victim to the hospital yourself as healthcare officers can start treating him/her while still on the way to the hospital. It is equally important to have quick access to specialized treatment when one is involved in such a bad accident crucial for improving outcomes.


Therefore some of the suggestions that one should observe when making a call include:

  • The person’s location

  • A description of the symptoms

  • If the disease develops not as a chronic condition, but appears as an acute one, the time of the symptom onset is crucial for the choice of therapy.


3. Stay Calm and Keep the Person Safe

When the situation entails that someone’s life is in danger, one has to wait for help to arrive, and in the process, one has to always try to comfort the person. Some of this may depend on the measures that one is willing to undertake during this period to improve on their health state.


  • Make the person lie down on the back: Arrange the patient in a comfortable position with the head raised slightly off the bed and it is very important not to let the patient move. This should help to ensure that the blood supply to the brain is not cut off, something that is not good for the heart and the health of a person.

  • Calm them down: The first thing a person should ensure is that the other side is calm. Anxiety can worsen the condition.

  • Maintain their airway: If they become unresponsive and are not breathing, then depending on your certification, you may need to do the compressions. If not, they can direct you on how to go about it through a telephone conversation or by coming to the dispatch.

Do not offer them food or drink: Every human being may be given food and drink but one should refrain from doing so because swallowing may be a problem during a stroke.


4. Note the Time of Symptom Onset

It is crucial to identify that aspect of the patient’s history since the time the symptoms started is key data for most health care providers. It is for this reason that timing is vital in the treatment of such therapies as clot-busting drugs. These treatments are time-sensitive (preferably within 3-4.5 hours of the onset of the first symptom).


In case you have no way of figuring out the right time, do the best you can, or remember if there have been any changes before the stroke. These pieces of information are quite valuable to facilitate greater decision-making efforts by medical practitioners concerning the suitability of a certain treatment.


5. Do Not Administer Medications Like Aspirin

Again, it is well known that people take aspirin for heart attack or blood clots, however, do not give aspirin or any blood thinner if you have suspicion of a stroke. Aspirin adversely affects bleeding in the brain if the stroke is of the hemorrhagic type of stroke. The stroke needs to be treated appropriately and the consensus is that only the medical personnel should prescribe the correct medications to be administered to the affected individual.


6. Monitor for Changes in Condition

While waiting for help, one should closely observe changes in the state of the individual involved in the incident. In case, they faint, cease to breathe, or exhibit other symptoms that may mean that they are lifeless, you may have to do CPR in case you have the skills. In case you are not aware of CPR, then the emergency dispatchers will guide you through the process via the phone.


Some things to check for:

  • Respiration: One should check for rise and fall of the chest, the sound of breathing as well as touch for breath.

  • Consciousness: If the person is unconscious, it is important to attempt and check for any signs of waking up.


7. Prepare for Medical Assistance

In this case, you should relay as much information as possible to the emergency team such as:


  • When the symptoms started

  • It is necessary to indicate the signs (FAST signs).

  • His past medical history.Free papers, medicine, medications which he takes, or had a history of any disease like heart disease, etc.

This will assist them in getting an understanding of the situation and starting the treatment immediately.


Conclusion: Time Is of the Essence

At Wellness Drpro, A stroke is one of the dangerous conditions that may not wait and needs urgent medical attention. This is why dependency on the common signs of a stroke and their prompt reporting increases the recovery rates, and the overall, poor extent of brain damage experienced. Recall the FAST acronym to quickly identify the stroke’s symptoms and dial for an emergency if you have the slightest doubt. The interval between the manifestation of signs and the beginning of treatment is highly important, thus, timely action is important in the subject’s life expectancy and quality.


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