What to do if someone is having a stroke

Strokes normally happen without a warning and can be life-threatening. Knowing what to do in case an emergency likes this happens is strongly recommended. Visit and learn at {www.homedoctorsgoldcoast.com.au/family-doctors} why a home GP should monitor you after stroke.

Below you will find a list of what to do if someone is having a stroke.

Call an ambulance

Calling the emergency services is essential – if someone is having a stroke don’t drive them to the hospital but instead call 911. Paramedics are better prepared to manage a situation like this, an ambulance can get the person to the hospital much quicker as well as provide assistance on the way.

After calling you should:

• Remain calm.
• Talk to the person having the stroke. If the person doesn’t respond it’s probably because they’re unconscious.
• Check your surroundings to verify the person or you aren’t in danger (like in the middle of a street).

Keep track of the symptoms and other conditions

You should keep a note of the time when the symptoms started and share that information with the paramedics or hospital staff. If you know of any other important condition like high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea or diabetes you should also inform about that.

Keep the person lying down

Encourage the person to lie down on their side with the head elevated but don’t move the person if they have fallen. This way they will have better blood flow to the brain.

Perform CPR in case of extreme necessity

It’s common that people experiencing a stroke may become unconscious. If you cannot find a pulse on the person, you should immediately start to perform CPR. If you don’t know how to do this, the 911 operator could help you.

Don’t give them any medication

It’s important that you don’t give any medication to the person suffering the stroke. A stroke can be caused by multiple reasons (like a blood clot or a burst blood vessel) and medication could make the bleeding worse.