Strokes Signs and Emergency Response Toolbox Talk

Strokes Signs and Emergency Response Safety Talk

Strokes are a leading causes of long-term disabilities and of death in the United States. Like heart attacks, strokes are a serious medical condition that can happen with little warning.

Statistics for strokes

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are more than 795,000 stroke victims in the U.S. every year. For about 610,000 of those victims, it is their first stroke.

Around every 3 minutes and 11 seconds, a stroke occurs that is fatal.

Stroke signs and symptoms

Several signs and symptoms may occur leading up to a stroke. It is important to understand the warning signs, because a quick and early response can be what saves your life or the life of a coworker. Even if you work closely with other people onsite, you never know if you are going to be the only person in the area when an emergency occurs.

Some of the signs and symptoms that can occur when someone is having a stroke are:

• Unexplained dizziness or dim vision (possible to only be In one eye)

• Suddenly inability to balance

• Nausea or vomiting

• Sudden onset of hiccups

• Trouble swallowing

• Sudden unexplained headache along with loss of consciousness

• Brief loss of consciousness

• Sudden onset of numb or tingling in the face, arms, or legs on one side

• Sudden vision loss

• Unexplained fever

• Sudden loss of strength or coordination

• Slurred speech or unable to speak clearly

• Weird sensation

Stroke victim emergency response

If you or someone you are working with is showing any of these signs of a stroke, seek medical attention immediately by callign emergency services. When you receive prompt medical care, the effects of a stroke can be minimized.

It is crucial that you act quickly. The amount of time a person remains untreated after the onset of symptoms can make a big difference in the ultimate outcome. The lasting effects of a stroke can range from mild to debilitating, and a stroke can even lead to fatality.

In an potential emergency, don't hesitate to call 911. It's much better be safe than sorry in these types of situations.

Knowing first aid and CPR is important

While working in construction, you are at risk to experience many different types of emergency situations. Knowing the basics of first aid and CPR can help save someone's life.

It doesn’t take long to get trained and certified. Some of the things that you can learn during a basic CPR or first aid course are:

• How to help when someone gets hurt, including bandaging minor cuts and scrapes

• What to do when someone is choking, including the steps to performing the Heimlich

• What to do when someone is unconscious, like hot to check for breathing or performing CPR

• How to assist someone who has broken or fractured a bone.

When you are trained to know what to do in an emergency, you'll likely stay calmer. Getting anxious and overwhelmed isn’t helpful and can lead you to make mistakes. Being comfortable with first aid and CPR is a valuable tool that can help protect you and others.

What to do while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive

When a stroke or another emergency occurs, it can seem like it takes forever for medical personnel to arrive. There are a few things to keep in mind while waiting for emergency services.

Once you have called 911, make sure you note what time it is. This will help the paramedics know how long the individual has been experiencing symptoms. Some other things to pay attention to are:

• Keep the individual talking as much as possible. Ask them simple questions to help keep them coherent.

• If they are unconscious, check to make sure they are breathing. If they aren’t, begin doing CPR. If you do not know how to do CPR, call for anyone around you who does know.

• Don’t give the affected individual food or drinks. This is a choking hazard.

• Stay put where you are until help arrives. Don’t try to move the individual.

What a stroke can do to a person

Strokes are a very serious medical condition that occurs when the blood supply is restricted to the brain. When blood is not able to flow properly, the tissues in your brain do not receive the oxygen needed to function. When your brain goes without oxygen, the cells begin to die. This can happen at rapid speeds, even in mere minutes.

That is one of the major reasons that prompt reactions are important. The faster that the victim receives medical attention, the better their potential outcome is. With proper care and help, you can recover from a stroke.

Being aware

Practicing awareness when on a construction site is important. You need to work safely at all times. All rules and regulations are in place for a reason, even if you don’t see it at the time.

You should also be aware of your fellow employees. You should be able to notice if someone isn’t acting right or seems off. Medical emergencies can happen at any time. When you have the knowledge to spot the warning signs of heat exhaustion, heart attacks, or strokes you can be the factor that saves someone’s life.