Stroke- knowing the symptoms
Discussion
Folks,
This is an unashamed public information broadcast!
I saved a man's life yesterday. For those that don't know, I'm a rural response cop. I cover over 400 miles, so sometimes situations are made a lot harder due to distance and conditions.
I attended an incident whereby an older gent was wandering around in a disoriented state following a minor accident. No injuries, virtually no damage. Nothing obviously wrong, just odd behaviour and weakness in his left hand. Up and walking/communicating. On face value he was just a confused old guy.
However, having seen the NHS campaign before I recognised the stroke warning signs and immediately radioed for an ambulance, then quickly bundled him into our car and made haste towards the nearest critical care A+E.
Several miles later we met the ambulance en route towards us, at which point he started to go into pulmonary/cardiac arrest in the back of our car. After administering CPR he regained a consistent pulse, and was stabilised at the roadside by paramedics.
Moral of the story? Look for the signs, and if you see them call 999 immediately and/or get to the nearest critical care hospital. DON'T WAIT, and don't doubt your instincts.
If I'd have doubted my initial suspicion, not called an ambulance straight away and ultimately not saved those vital 7 minutes by getting towards the hospital he wouldn't still be here.
FAST, folks...
http://www.nhs.uk/actfast/Pages/stroke.aspx#f6a7U6...
This is an unashamed public information broadcast!
I saved a man's life yesterday. For those that don't know, I'm a rural response cop. I cover over 400 miles, so sometimes situations are made a lot harder due to distance and conditions.
I attended an incident whereby an older gent was wandering around in a disoriented state following a minor accident. No injuries, virtually no damage. Nothing obviously wrong, just odd behaviour and weakness in his left hand. Up and walking/communicating. On face value he was just a confused old guy.
However, having seen the NHS campaign before I recognised the stroke warning signs and immediately radioed for an ambulance, then quickly bundled him into our car and made haste towards the nearest critical care A+E.
Several miles later we met the ambulance en route towards us, at which point he started to go into pulmonary/cardiac arrest in the back of our car. After administering CPR he regained a consistent pulse, and was stabilised at the roadside by paramedics.
Moral of the story? Look for the signs, and if you see them call 999 immediately and/or get to the nearest critical care hospital. DON'T WAIT, and don't doubt your instincts.
If I'd have doubted my initial suspicion, not called an ambulance straight away and ultimately not saved those vital 7 minutes by getting towards the hospital he wouldn't still be here.
FAST, folks...
http://www.nhs.uk/actfast/Pages/stroke.aspx#f6a7U6...
Thanks all for the kind words. I'm on a public information rampage as I'd never have acted as I did without knowing about stroke.
The scary thing is, it didn't seem like a medical emergency. He was up and about, and it took a bit of fortitude to say 'ambulance NOW, we're taking him on blue lights' for someone with no other obvious injury.
But less than 10mins later we were doing CPR on him... the fire analogy they use in the adverts is very apt!
The scary thing is, it didn't seem like a medical emergency. He was up and about, and it took a bit of fortitude to say 'ambulance NOW, we're taking him on blue lights' for someone with no other obvious injury.
But less than 10mins later we were doing CPR on him... the fire analogy they use in the adverts is very apt!
Well done! A good result, and a worthwhile informative post. This is the sort of stuff we should all keep to the forefront of our minds.
Oh, and BTW:
In my experience, a rural response is "Aaarrr", "Get orf moi laaand" or something about Grockles...
Oh, and BTW:
carreauchompeur said:
I'm a rural response cop.
In my experience, a rural response is "Aaarrr", "Get orf moi laaand" or something about Grockles...
Ki3r said:
And here I was thinking being a police officer was about crime and nothing else...
Well done OP. I know you'll only see it as your job, but still! Must be a good feeling knowing it was you that saved his life.
Thanks, it's a brilliant feeling. We have lots of things at work which are urgent, but this was one that felt absolutely critical and it's nice to have made a difference.Well done OP. I know you'll only see it as your job, but still! Must be a good feeling knowing it was you that saved his life.
"Crime and nothing else". What utter tosh! I would say that actually crime is a pretty small part of our daily job... Ta Theresa
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