Subject: STROKE a must Read  - SAVE A LIFE

STROKE:  Remember The 1st Three Letters... S.T.R.  
           
My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the word, I agreed. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save a life.

Seriously...........Please read: 

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 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 6:00pm, 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 or she 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 .
               T *         Ask the person to TALK  to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE  
                                              (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)
               R  *         Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .

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.

                A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to
                10 people;  you can bet that at least one life will be saved.