On average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the U.S.
Do you know what to do if someone is having a stroke? If you don’t, you’ll have an opportunity to learn during a stroke awareness event at Petco Park Sunday.
Information about the warning signs of stroke and what to do if a person is having a stroke will be provided to those in attendance when the Padres take on the Pirates in a 1:10 p.m. contest.
The Padres are set to team up with local hospitals and the Stroke Consortium to promote stroke prevention, awareness and recovery as part of National Stroke Awareness Month. Discounted tickets for the game can be purchased here.
More than 1,000 stroke deaths occurred in San Diego County in 2018, and about 15 people are hospitalized due to strokes every day.
“Recognizing the common signs of stroke and what to do is extremely important,” said Dr. Kristi L. Koenig, medical director for Emergency Medical Services at the County Health and Human Services Agency. “It can make the difference between life and death.”
BE FAST is an acronym to help remember the signs of stroke. It stands for:
- BALANCE: Is balance impaired? Is the person unsteady?
- EYES: Is the person’s vision impaired?
- FACE: Is a side of the face droopy or numb? Is the smile uneven?
- ARM & LEG: Is there weakness, numbness or difficulty walking?
- SPEECH: Is there slurred speech? Does the person have difficulty speaking?
- TIME: Time is critical. If you notice any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.
There are three habits that will help prevent strokes – exercising regularly, eating healthy foods and not smoking.
“If you heed this advice … you are greatly diminishing your risk of having a stroke,” Koenig said.
– Staff reports
