Flotilla 4-08  District 8 Coastal Region - Slidell, Louisiana

Operations Ribbon granted to those who qualify in auxiliary operations programs. Click on the ribbon to go to the National Operations website, (the "O' dept) at:  http://www.auxodept.org

CSMthlyrprt12162006.doc

CSreport01_16_2007.doc

Members of the Auxiliary have the opportunity to train in six operational specialty courses. An AUXOP member has completed all six advanced specialty courses and is entitled to wear the special AUXOP device on the uniform. (Click on the device for more info.)

        STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a  BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that  she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and that she had just  tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and  got her a new plate of food.  While she appeared a bit shaken up,  Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's  husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the  hospital - (at 6:00 PM, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at  the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps  Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless,  hopeless condition instead.

It only  takes a minute to read this...
A  neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he  can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick  was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient  medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
RECOGNIZING A STROKE  
Thank  God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and  Learn!  
Sometimes  symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of  awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain  damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.  

Now doctors  say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:  

S *        Ask the  individual to SMILE  .  
(If  the smile is lopsided, a stroke is likely to have  occurred.)

T *          Ask the  person to TALK  to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(If the  speech is slurred, a stroke is likely to have occurred.)
(Coherently)  (i.e. It is sunny out today)

R *         Ask him or  her to RAISE  BOTH ARMS .
(If he  or she cannot raise one arm, a stroke is likely to have  occurred.)

*NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is  this: Ask  the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.    If  he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. 

Comments Charles O'Boyle, MD (Anesthesiology) :