We're not getting any younger so I thought this advice might be prudent! I'll add related issues to this page as good advice reveals itself. 

INDEX - Stroke Recognition, Survive a Heart Attack, Mosquitoes, 
 

RECOGNIZING A STROKE - (A true story) Susie is recouping at an incredible pace for someone with a massive stroke all because Sherry saw Susie stumble - - that is the key that isn't mentioned below - and then she asked Susie the 3 questions. So simple - - this literally saved Susie's life - - Some angel sent it to Suzie's friend and they did just what it said to do. Suzie failed all three questions so 911 was called.

Even though she had normal blood pressure readings, and it did not appear to be a stroke as she could converse to some extent with the paramedics, they took her to the hospital right away. Thank God for the sense to remember the 3 steps!

Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of these strokes are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
3. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE COHERENTLY (i.e. 'It is sunny out today').

If the individual has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage. 

BE A FRIEND AND SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE. It could save their lives. Ralph Fuches. 

SMILE FOR ME
RAISE YOUR ARMS
SAY SOMETHING SIMPLE, such as "I LOVE YOU."

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Let's say it's 6: 15 p.m. and you're driving home (alone of course), after an unusually hard day on the job. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly, you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five kilometers from the hospital nearest your home; unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. What can you do? You've been trained in CPR but the guy that taught the course neglected to tell you how to perform it on yourself. 

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this article seemed to be in order. Without help, the person whose heart stops beating properly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough. The cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. And a cough must be repeated about every 2 seconds without let up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it to regain normal rhythm. In this way, a heart attack victim can get to a hospital.

Article from Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via Chapter 240s newsletter AND THE BEAT GOES ON . . .  http://www.helenacardiology.com/Newsletters/Mended%20Hearts/December%202002/MENDED12.002.htm 

BE A FRIEND AND PLEASE SEND THIS ARTICLE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE

PS: This situation would be aggravated if you are sailing solo on Wabamun Lake. The best procedure is to call mayday immediately on VHF 16. The quicker you let someone know about your condition and location the better. If you have a cell phone, call 911 immediately so the Wabamun fire department rescue boat can pick you up. The rescue boat is e/w with marine VHF and someone else can guide them to your location while you remain calm. Another sailor can look after your boat while you are being transported to aid. 

NOTE: "The idea about coughing in case of a heart attack has been around for a while and while it can work and has under clinical conditions (where everything is just right), is not something that St. John Ambulance endorses.  Coughing will not stop the heart attack. It builds up a back-pressure in the heart which may stop the heart from fibrillating. A person can accomplish the same by bearing down, like if your trying to pass gas.

There are some real dangers in doing this:

• First of all, a person having a heart attack should not be driving and endangering others.
• Time can be better spent getting medical aid, resting quietly in a semi-sitting position, and munching on two ASA tablets (Aspirin).

NOTE: The very most important thing is to get this person to medical aid as soon as possible."    Ralph Fuches. 

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A tip that was given at a recent gardening forum to those who like sitting around the fire at night or when you're having a BBQ.  This is especially important now that mosquitoes have the potential to carry the West-Nile Virus, 

• Put some water on a white dinner plate and add a couple of drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish detergent. Set the dish on your porch, patio or other outdoor area. Mosquitoes flock to it and drop dead shortly after drinking the soapy mixture; usually within about 3M feet of the plate.        Hans Felch, PSC. 

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