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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – If you are in an accident, having a stroke or heart attack, or your heart starts beating irregularly, minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
Alana McClellan, RN, at Mercy Hospital Emergency Room said, “how quickly one receives initial care often means the difference between a full recovery or life long limitations.”
She added, “especially in the instance of a stroke or heart attack it is EXTREMELY important to seek medical care right away. Every minute matters: in these instances minutes mean brain function or heart muscle. Research has shown that each minute not treated is correlated with a worse outcome. Know the symptoms of a stroke and heart attack. If you or someone you know develops these symptoms, call 911 immediately.”
Symptoms of a stroke are FAST – remember to think fast:
· F – Facial Weakness
· A – Arm and Leg Weakness
· S – Speech Problems
· T – is for Time. Call 911 immediately!
Symptoms of a heart attack are:
· Chest discomfort
· Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
· Shortness of breath
· Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, feeling nauseated, or light headed.
Sometimes people who are having a heart attack do not have the usual symptoms, resulting in a delay in care. Other symptoms may include abdominal, back, or jaw pain, nausea/ vomiting, trouble breathing, and unexplained fatigue.
PREVENT heart disease and stroke in your family by UNDERSTANDING the risks.
· GET UP and GET ACTIVE by exercising for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
· KNOW your ABCS:
o Appropriate Aspirin Therapy
o Blood Pressure Control
o Cholesterol Control
o Smoking Cessation
· STAY STRONG by eating a heart-healthy diet that is high in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in sodium, saturated and trans fats and cholesterol.
· TAKE CONTROL of your heart health by following your doctor’s instructions for medications and treatment.
Information according to American Heart Association.
Our hospital is a stroke certified hospital which means we can deliver the treatment for stroke right here at our hospital. We met all the requirements to be certified in life-saving stroke treatment.
Sometimes people think that if they are transferred from CHI Mercy Health to another hospital, it means that the visit to our hospital was a waste of time. On the contrary, the initial stop at CHI Mercy Health ER is important. We work closely with the larger hospitals in our region and have protocols in pla+ce to improve your outcomes. By coming here, you begin your treatment right away. We give you oxygen, IV fluids, and medications that can decrease the long term effects and can literally save your life. As we provide that initial treatment we alert the larger hospital so that their team is ready to continue the care we have begun for you. In fact, very recent statistics compiled by Sanford Health show that our hospital is one of the most efficient ER’s in our region when it comes to care of heart attack patients. Our ER care providers are very skilled and have taken advanced training in many critical areas. In addition ER staff have certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Trauma Nursing, and CPR We are able to offer very important initial care that assists in stabilizing patients in emergency or life threatening situations.
In other news: The CHI Mercy Hospital emergency room parking lot is closed to install a new CT scanner. Emergency room patients can be dropped off or picked up near the emergency room loading zone from now through the end of the project. Parking will be available in the street or in the main parking lot until the project is completed in August of 2017.