“Time is brain” – this is the life preserving and disability preventing message that Sr Stephanie Ajodhya, emergency department unit manager at Netcare Olivedale Hospital, shared on her recent visit to a local retirement village to raise awareness about acting fast if a stroke is suspected.
“Many of the patients whom we see in the emergency department presenting with strokes have come to us late. It is deeply saddening to see, as so often a life could have been saved or a disability could have been prevented had the patient arrived at a hospital in time to receive treatment,” says Sr Steph, as she is known.
“When a clot is the cause of the stroke and a patient meets the correct medical criteria, medication can be administered to break down the clot, restoring blood supply to that part of the brain. This can reverse certain stroke symptoms such as speech impairment, facial drooping and weakness in the arm,” she explains.
“At Netcare Olivedale Hospital we are passionate about community involvement. I am all too aware that there is a knowledge deficit about stroke and I feel education is the key. This is just the beginning. My dream is to roll this programme out to other retirement villages in our surrounding community and beyond.”
Eugene Ferreira, general manager at Netcare Olivedale Hospital, who accompanied Sr Steph and her team on their first stroke awareness visit to Maison d’Olivier Retirement Village, says close to 40 attendees were already seated in anticipation of the talk and demonstration, which was followed by a lively Q&A session.
“The community of Olivedale and its surrounds relies on us to provide the best possible care and in the case of stroke intervention, the sooner a patient arrives here the better we are able to assist them. We are delighted to have Sr Steph spearheading this important initiative, which we hope will make a significant difference in the lives of many,” he concluded.
Sr Steph urges members of the community, particularly those over the age of 60 as well as people with hypertension, to familiarise themselves with the signs of stroke:
B.E. F.A.S.T
BALANCE Difficulty in maintaining balance
EYES Change in eyesight
FACE Face drooping
ARM Arm weakness
SPEECH Difficulty in talking
TIME Get help immediately – every second counts
If you suspect a stroke, contact an emergency services provider such as Netcare 911 on 082 911 or get to the nearest hospital’s emergency department right away.
Ends
Notes to editor
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Issued by: MNA on behalf of Netcare Olivedale Hospital
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