Stroke Program
Holland Hospital’s Stroke Program delivers immediate and expert care in line with the most up-to-date American Stroke Association guidelines. Patients who arrive at the hospital with stroke symptoms can expect to receive rapid, professional treatment by an experienced stroke team.
Alerted by paramedics that a possible stroke patient is coming, our team is ready even before the patient arrives at our doors. Emergency physicians, RNs, imaging and radiology experts, lab specialists and neurologists work in unison to immediately evaluate the patient and begin appropriate treatment.
FAST Treatment is Essential
Effective stroke treatment depends upon the patient and type of stroke that is occurring. However, the most important factor is getting appropriate treatment FAST. For this reason, you should know of the signs of a stroke and:
- Seek medical attention by calling 911 immediately.
- Do not attempt to drive yourself (or the patient) to the hospital.
Stroke Signs & Symptoms
Because stroke injures the brain, a stroke victim may not realize that he or she is having a stroke or be able to call 911. That’s why everyone should be familiar with the signs of stroke and call 911 if any of the following symptoms suddenly occur:
- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg.
- Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.
- Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding.
- Dizziness and loss of balance or coordination
- Headache, usually severe and abrupt.
Think FAST
To help you remember signs of a stroke, experts recommend that you think FAST if you or someone you are with suddenly experiences any of the following:
F Facial weakness: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A Arm weakness: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S Speech problems: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he or she
repeat the sentence correctly?
T Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is critical. Call 911 immediately.
For more information about stroke symptoms and treatment, visit the following web sites:
Stroke Heroes Act FAST
This colorful 3-minute animated video helps audiences remember the signs of stroke and encourages them to respond immediately at any sign of stroke by calling 9-1-1. A version is also offered for Latino audiences.
(Produced by the Massachusetts Dept. of Health.)
To view either version of the video, click here.
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