Page 13 - Perth Emergency Services

STROKE RESPONSE
Stroke is a syndrome caused by a disruption in blood flow to a part of the brain. It occurs when the blood vessel either ruptures or becomes blocked. A stroke deprives the neurons and other brain cells of glucose and oxygen, which leads to cell death. The longer the brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, the higher the likelihood of permanent damage to the brain.
Stroke also called a “brain attack” and it can happen to anyone at any age at any time. Most strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is blocked, causing brain cells to die.
Paramedics assess patients for an acute stroke, address urgent health needs such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar; and gather important information such as when the patient was last known to be well in order to establish the initial time of the stroke; and record existing health conditions, medications, and allergies.
Once paramedics determine a patient is likely having stroke symptoms, paramedics begin a management regime which includes monitoring vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen levels) and checking blood sugar levels. Paramedics’ stroke protocol allows them to bypass hospitals to bring patients directly to a designated stroke centre.
The Significant Impact of
Stroke in Ontario:
• Stroke is the third leading cause of death
• Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability
• More women than men die from stroke
• More women die of stroke than breast cancer
• There are an estimated 25,500 new stroke events in Ontario
15,500 hospital inpatient admissions, every year
• At least every 30 minutes, there is one new stroke victim
in Ontario
• More than 5,500 (22%) of Ontarians die within one year of
their stroke
• The annual cost of stroke for new patients admitted to
inpatients is > $1.1 billion
• One in five residents in long-term care has had a stroke
Calling Paramedics via 9-1-1
is your best chance for recovery
• For every minute delay in treating a stroke, the average patient loses 1.9 million brain cells, 13.8 billion synapses, and 12 km of axonal fibres.
• Each hour, in which treatment does not occur, the brain loses as many neurons as it does in almost 3.6 years of normal aging.
• Did you know that 1 in 3 stroke patients don’t call Paramedics? Instead, they may not recognize they’re having a stroke, try to wait to see if their symptoms go away, or may try to drive themselves or have another person drive them to the emergency room. All of these things actually increase your risk for disability and death.
Why is it always best to call 9-1-1 if you think that someone is having a stroke?
1
2 Paramedics get you to the hospital faster.
You may think that you’ll get to the hospital faster if you drive yourself or have a loved one drive you. The truth is that the Paramedics on board may be able to start your treatment right away during a stroke.
Think of calling 9-1-1 as bringing emergency room resources 3 to your door.
Paramedics save precious time once
you reach the hospital.
If you are having a stroke you will more likely to be treated quicker at the hospital because on the way to the hospital, Perth County Paramedics begin your treatment by:
• Screening you for stroke symptoms,
• Monitoring your heart rate and blood pressure,
• Initiating an intravenous line in your arm to begin lifesaving
medication if required,
• Gathering information about medications you take, your
medical history, or other relevant information.
• Paramedics have a dedicated phone line to the hospital to
inform the medical team that a stroke patient will be arriving and the paramedics will pre-register you in the hospital.
This gives the hospital team extra time to prepare staff, equipment and medicines for your arrival.
MANY STROKE PATIENTS WHO NEED THE DRUG DON’T GET IT, THIS IS BECAUSE They wAIT TOO lOnG TO cAll 9-1-1
OR GET TO THE HOSPITAL TOO LATE FOR TREATMENT.
Not all hospitals treat strokes, do you know if your local hospital has stroke treatment? Most people don’t ... good news, your local
Perth County Paramedics do!
When a stroke happens, getting to a hospital that specializes
in stroke treatment is important. Hospitals that specialize in stroke, like certified stroke centers, have developed standards of care for stroke patients and may have more staff, medicine, and equipment for treating stroke on hand.
THE BEACON HERALD | 2018 PERTH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT | PAGE 13