Stroke for Emergency Medical

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Accurately define common stroke-related terms.

2. Discuss the history of stroke diagnosis and treatment.

3. Discuss the frequency of stroke in the United States.

4. Discuss the role that EMS personnel play in providing care to stroke patients.

5. Describe the various types of strokes and their causes.

6. Identify common medical conditions that can mimic strokes.

7. Discuss common stroke risk factors.

8. Recognize the common signs and symptoms of a stroke.

9. Describe how to conduct a FAST exam.

10. Describe steps that EMS personnel can take to minimize the time that it takes for patients to receive stroke therapy.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States and globally (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). Each minute between the onset of a stroke and the initiation of treatment means that brain tissue is irreversibly damaged. Since many stroke victims are transported by ambulance (Adeoye, et al., 2010), emergency medical personnel play a vital role in reducing the amount of time that it takes for patients to receive life-saving treatment, which can make the difference between a meaningful recovery and permanent disability or death. This course is designed to familiarize emergency medical personnel with the various types of strokes, the common signs and symptoms of a stroke, methods for assessing for a likely stroke, and steps they can take to reduce the time to treatment and optimize patient outcomes.