Irving Fire Department retired Captain Larry Erwin's wife, Rita, recently had a stroke.
"Thankfully because of great neighbors and the fast response of Engine 1 and Medic 1. Rita made it to the hospital and received thrombotics within an hour.", posted IFD on its Facebook page.
Timing is the key in surviving a stroke. Because of the quick reaction of neighbors and the IFD, Rita Erwin is now recovering very rapidly and things are looking very good for her.
When identifying a victim suffering a stroke, remember the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T
B – Balance: The person may suddenly have trouble with balance or coordination.
E – Eyes: They could experience sudden blurred, double or total loss of vision. This can happen in one or both eyes.
F – Face: Do you notice one side of their face drooping? Ask the person to smile.
A – Arms: Are they experiencing weakness in one arm? If they raise both arms, does one drift down?
S – Speech: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a short sentence like, “Remember the Alamo.” Do they repeat the sentence correctly?
T – Time to get help: If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 and get the person to a hospital immediately.
Additional symptoms of stroke may include:
- Sudden confusion
- Numbness of the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden, severe headache
