Think FAST for National Stroke Awareness Month

WMMC urges the community to become educated on stroke symptoms in recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month

Warrensburg, MO (May 30, 2017)—May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Western Missouri Medical Center (WMMC) is dedicated to helping the community understand risk factors and symptoms of stroke, the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States.

If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, every minute matters. WMMC is proud to be a designated Level III Stroke Center, meaning that area residents can feel assured in their time critical stroke care at the WMMC Emergency Department.

Missouri’s Time Critical Diagnosis (TCD) designation helps first responders identify nearby hospitals that are equipped to treat stroke patients. Missouri hospitals can apply for TCD designation in three time-critical areas: stroke, STEMI and trauma. WMMC is currently designated as a Level III Stroke and Trauma Center. These designations allow area residents to receive time critical care, closer to home.

What are strokes?

Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this happens, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes.

How do I recognize a stroke?

Remember to think F-A-S-T. F is for face – is the person’s face drooping? A is for arms – can the person lift both arms? S is for speech – is the person slurring their speech? And T is for time – call 9-1-1 immediately because, with a stroke, every moment counts.

Primary stroke symptoms include:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face or facial drooping
  • Sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

For more information about stroke, visit strokeawareness.com. To learn more about WMMC’s emergency care efforts, visit WMMC.com.

Western Missouri Medical Center (WMMC) is a fully-accredited acute care county medical center located in Warrensburg, MO. WMMC prides itself in emergency care, obstetrics, orthopedic and general surgery, family healthcare, internal medicine, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care, rehabilitation services and more. Inpatient services include medical, surgical, intensive, obstetrical, orthopedic, pediatric and skilled nursing care, as well as a wide range of therapeutic and diagnostic outpatient services. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tara Carlyle

Executive Director of Communications and Development

(660) 262-7497

tcarlyle@wmmc.com