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Stroke Recognition Made Simple

// December 8th, 2008 // 6 Comments » // Blog

I have a somewhat strange ‘Īd gift for you all. My friend SimSim (as named by Organica) is a physiotherapist, and up till recently worked in the Stroke Unit at the local hospital. She forwarded me the following information via email. I pray that none of you ever have to use it, but if you do, then maybe it'll save someone's life, God-willing.

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STROKE: Remember the first three Letters… S.T.R.

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). She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They cleaned her up and fetched 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.

The sooner the condition is treated, the higher the chance of a complete recovery; however, the window of opportunity is very small – a matter of hours – which means one needs to identify the problem immediately.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

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

1. S – Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. T – Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently), e.g., “It is sunny out today?”
3. R – Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the emergency services immediately, and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke: Stick out Your Tongue

Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue: if the tongue is 'crooked', that is, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

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SimSim also developed her own similar system named S.T.A.R.:

1. S – SPEAK a simple sentence
2. T – Stick out the TONGUE
3. A – AMBULATE – does the person have difficulty walking?
4. R – RAISE both arms

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Please memorize, and feel free to copy and paste the above, in order to forward the life-saving information on to your contacts.

Eid Greetings

// December 8th, 2008 // 9 Comments » // Blog

Another year, another ‘Īd… Ramadan somehow feels just as much a distant memory, as a recently departed event.

I discovered something slightly disturbing today: it costs more to perform the Qurbani in Iraq, than in the UK (£155 vs £95). The first price was taken from the Islamic Relief website, the second from a local London butcher. The cheapest price quoted was for India, just £30. However, the canned meat option for Iraq is cheaper, at £67. Still… quite a shocking price difference.

May Allāh grant our brothers and sisters in Iraq, and all parts of this blue-green Earth, a peaceful ‘Īd, so they may call out the takbeer with true gratitude in their hearts. Āmīn.

A reminder of this awesome group activity:

The morning of ‘Īd-ul Fitr at the Sacred Mosque in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia

No Surprise To Me

// December 2nd, 2008 // 8 Comments » // Blog

I'll admit: when I am upset, I don't always turn to the right places for comfort. The kitchen is usually my first port of call. Sometimes sleep. Sometimes friends.

But what happens when your stomach doesn't fill?

And your brain refuses to switch off?

And friends don't pick up the phone?

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