Stroke has been confirmed by renowned medical practitioners to be the 5th leading cause of death in the world, with one person dying every 4 minutes. Stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. The signs of a stroke include a sudden severe headache, weakness, numbness, vision problems, confusion, trouble walking or talking, dizziness and slurred speech. Also, face drooping on one side, a weak or numb arm and slurred or garbled speech are the major emergency signs that need immediate medical treatment.
In addition, about six million people are killed by strokes each year but knowing how to spot symptoms quickly can save lives. Many of the lost victims could have died as a result of symptoms unawareness by whoever is around them.
Recently, it was reported that a teenage girl in the US state of Wisconsin stepped in when her mother had a stroke, having learned what to look out for just two days previously in a school science lesson. The knowledge guided her on what next to do.
Katie Murphy, a 14-year-old from the city of Waukesha, called an ambulance after she noticed her mother Christa Murphy’s speech had become muddled. The student immediately remembered what the science teacher taught them which helped her to recognise the symptoms of the serious condition.
“Her speech was all mixed up, [it didn’t] make sense at all. Then I had gone back to that lesson, and was like: ‘Maybe she’s having a stroke’,” Katie told local news channel WISN.
She further explained that the science was just like a normal lesson to her and didn’t know that her mum could experience such soon. She said that the symptoms helped her to quickly understand her mum’s state and immediately called the medical emergency line.
Mrs Murphy, 45, told the broadcaster that she couldn’t believe what happened to her. She had never had a stroke before and never thought she could have any so soon at her early age.
In addition, she said she asked Katie for help after she found she was having trouble with her daily routine, including everyday tasks such as putting toothpaste on her toothbrush and doing the cooking. She didn’t realise it was stroke setting in.
Katie’s teacher uses stories to teach the students so that most of the knowledge could be retained in their memories.
“I tell stories constantly, I knew a story was something they would grasp onto,” said Katie’s teacher Beth Tomlin.
Everyone is expected to know the symptoms of stroke. However, other symptoms of stroke include; sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body and in the face, arm or leg; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; and sudden confusion, dizziness or lack of coordination. Knowing these symptoms will help the victims as the first aid to this illness is to immediately get a medical assistance.
