Important information shared at stroke awareness day
The team from Netcare Krugersdorp hosted a stroke awareness campaign at the Azaadville family fun day recently.
The group from Netcare Krugersdorp Hospital, in cooperation with Ampath, Path Care and Lancet, joined in on the Azaadville Family Fun Day.
The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about strokes in particular. The group set up a tent and 256 visitors each received a ‘passport’ booklet.
They then moved through the stations and had their blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels tested and noted in the booklet. The medical personnel also calculated every patient’s body mass index and based on all the information, it could then be determined if the patient was at risk of a stroke or a heart attack.
Visitors were taught how to recognise the signs of a stroke and what steps to take in the event of someone having a stroke. They were given a lesson in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while they were waiting. There are a few ways to recognise a stroke. Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, a sudden, unusual, persistent severe headache, difficulty speaking or loss of sight in one or both eyes could be symptoms of a stroke.
One can always do the FAST test.
• Face: Smile or show your teeth – is one side of the mouth drooping?
• Arm: Close your eyes and hold out your arms in front of you for 10 seconds. Is one arm drifting down?
• Speech: Repeat any sentence. Is your speech slurred, do you use the wrong words or are you unable to speak?
• Time: Take note of the time and get to the nearest Stroke Unit as soon as possible as every minute counts.
If you suspect someone you know has had a stroke, get the person to a doctor or Stroke Unit as soon as possible. Many strokes can be reversed if blood flow to the brain is restored before the brain tissue dies.
Visitor were also treated to a few safety demonstrations. The Rescue Services, Netcare 911 ambulances, Netcare 911 Rapid Response services and Station 38 Fire and Rescue Services gave a demonstration of how a patient would be extracted out of a car during an accident.
The West Rand Flying Squad demonstrated how they would take down hijackers, while the mounted police were available to answer questions throughout the day.
The K9 Unit was also there to show the spectators how their members pursue and catch criminals. According to Karen du Plessis, public relations officer for the West Rand Flying Squad, they wanted to make it a memorable day with the demonstrations showing how the different services in the area work together in different emergencies. The spectators, surrounded by clouds of smoke and the loud noise of shots being fired, were in awe during this important awareness day.
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