Many of you have seen and/or read this, but it is worth

re-reading or refreshing your memory about it.

---Dr. Geske

Remember the 1st Three Letters....S.T.R.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can possibly reverse the effects of a stroke. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
 
RECOGNIZING A STROKE
  
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.  Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe 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:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently, i.e. “It is sunny out today.”)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Another Possible Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.  If the tongue is 'crooked', if it deviates to one side or the other, that can also be an indication of a stroke.