The Three Easy Questions To Save a Life

A high-school classmate e-mailed my classmates and me the other day with some information that has recently been learned about strokes. We all know that President Ariel Sharon of Israel is now suffering from the effects of a severe stroke and probably will never be able to resume his duties. Because it is now known that getting medical attention immediately is just as important for a stroke as for a heart attack, I did some research on this and verified the following information. The key is to observe the warning signs and then ask the three easy questions:

The warning signs of a stroke are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

The three easy questions are:

• ask the individual to smile.
• ask him or her to raise both arms.
• ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately, and
describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

One of the biggest problems people face, with an impending heart attack or stroke, is the fear of looking foolish if it is a false alarm. Be my guest - go look foolish, and stay alive.