THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECOGNIZES MAY AS AMERICAN STROKE MONTH
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) joins the American Stroke Association in recognizing May as American Stroke Month. The Stroke Collaborative, a joint venture of the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the American Stroke Association, has developed a new campaign called “Give Me 5: Walk, Talk, Reach, See, Feel” to raise awareness about the warning signs of stroke and the importance of getting to the emergency room fast.
“This educational campaign coincides with alarming new research released in February 2008 that shows a tripling in the rate of strokes among middle-aged women,” said Betsy Wood, BSN, MPH, Chief of the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. As a result, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs and therefore starts to die. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. However, research shows that the public remains unaware of stroke warning signs and the need for immediate medical attention (even if the symptoms go away). Stroke symptoms include sudden difficulty walking, talking, reaching and seeing, as well as sudden and severe headache.
It is especially important for women to know the warning signs, because they account for almost 70 percent of stroke deaths. The important message of the “Give Me 5” campaign is early identification of stroke symptoms and early intervention by doctors in the emergency room. Early recognition of stroke symptoms can make the difference between life and death.
Saving someone’s life – or even one’s own – may be as simple as remembering “Give Me 5”. The campaign also urges people to say, “I think this is a stroke” when speaking with a 9-1-1 operator, paramedic, nurse or physician. Do not ignore symptoms, and do not delay getting to the emergency room. With stroke, every minute counts.
“Give Me 5” offers a quick stroke check using five short words:
DOH promotes, protects and improves the health of all people in Florida. For more information about the “Give Me 5” campaign, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit www.strokeassociation.org. To learn more about the DOH Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, visit www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/Heart/index.html. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com. To learn more about the American College of Emergency Physicians, visit www.acep.org For detailed statistics, visit Florida’s Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set web page (CHARTS) at www.floridacharts.com.
