Awareness About Stroke This May

Clearview, WA - About 795,000 Americans will suffer a stroke this year, yet most people in the U.S. cannot identify stroke warning signs or risk factors. Many strokes – some studies indicate that up to 80 percent – can be prevented through risk factor management.

There is no doubt that more education about stroke is needed. Public awareness of stroke warning signs and risk factors has not improved during the past five years, but May is a time to change this startling statistic. National Stroke Awareness Month takes place in May every year. In honor of this special time, Snohomish County Fire District 7 and the National Stroke Association encourages everyone to help raise awareness in some way.

Did You Know?

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.Between 1998 and 2008, the annual stroke death rate fell 34.8 percent in the United States. The actual number of stroke deaths declined 19.4 percent.By 2030, it is estimated that 4 million people will have had a stroke. This is nearly 25% higher than 2010 estimates.Stroke is an emergency! It’s important to learn stroke warning signs and how to respond to them. Emergency treatment may be available if a stroke is recognized FAST and 9-1-1 is called. Use the FAST test to remember warning signs:

F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?A = ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?T = TIME If you observe any of these signs (independently or together), call 9-1-1 immediately.