This year, Sharp Coronado Hospital was recognized as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission.
In February, medical personnel shared the symptoms to recognize that can help save one’s life.
“There’s just that disconnect with the public that they don’t recognize that they’re having a stroke,” said Sharp Coronado Hospital Special Populations Program Manager Wendy Rutherford, who is stroke certified registered nurse. “Or people don’t know the signs …And they don’t know to call 911.”
Rutherford said healthcare workers use the acronym ‘BE FAST’ as a memory tool for evaluating the key symptoms.
According to Sharp’s website they include:
“B” — Balance: Sudden dizziness or loss of balance or the ability to walk.
“E” — Eyes: Sudden blurry vision or loss of vision affecting one or both eyes.
“F” — Face: Facial weakness or drooping on one side of the face or an asymmetrical smile.
“A” — Arms: Weakness or numbness in the arm or leg on one side of the body.
“S” — Speech: Difficulty speaking, slurred speech, the inability to find the right words to say or an inability to understand others.
“T” — Time: Treatment for stroke is time sensitive. Act fast and call 911 immediately if you suspect a stroke.”
