Montana Mission: Lifeline® Stroke Public Health Education
What is Mission: Lifeline® Stroke?
Mission: Lifeline Stroke is a program for transforming stroke care by focusing efforts on connecting all of the components of acute stroke care into a smoothly integrated system that reinforces use of evidence-based guidelines, measures performance, identifies gaps, and engages in improvement projects at a systems level. The stroke system of care begins with community recognition and preparedness to identify stroke and continues all the way through hospital discharge, into rehabilitation and the initiation of secondary prevention. It brings together hospitals, ambulance services, non-transport medical first response agencies, emergency communications centers, emergency medical service regulatory and medical direction agencies, local government, local media, and payers to forge a proactive system of stroke care that saves and improves lives.
By learning the F.A.S.T. warning signs you just might save a life from stroke.
Face Drooping
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?
Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
Arm Weakness
Is one arm weak or numb?
Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech
Is speech slurred?
Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue."
Time to Call 9-1-1
If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately.
Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.Facts About Stroke
News:
- Rural residents, American Indians travel farthest for certified stroke care
- Stroke deaths rise in rural areas, hold steady in cities
- Risk of second stroke can be reduced with prevention efforts based on cause of first stroke
- Billings Gazette: $4.8M grant to expand stroke care in rural Montana
- Great Falls Tribune: State gets $4.8M grant to improve stroke care in rural Montana
- Bitterroot Star: Former Star columnist featured in launch of $4.8 million stroke initiative
- Obesity during adolescence linked to increased risk of stroke as an adult
- Managing children’s weight, blood pressure & cholesterol protects brain function mid-life
- Women face unique risks for high blood pressure and stroke
Have you seen us around?
The Montana Stroke Initiative is a collaboration between the Montana Department of Public Health, Cardiovascular Health Program, American Stroke Association and physicians, nurses, EMS personnel and hospital administrators throughout the state. Check out our public campaign featured across the state.
Stroke Risk Factors
Stroke is dangerous and deadly — the No. 5 killer and a leading cause of disability in America. But you can control and treat several risk factors for stroke.
