Hospital highlights - Brain Attack? Act fast!

A stroke cuts off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Think of it as a brain attack. Strokes kill over 137,000 Americans each year and is a leading cause of long term disability. Strokes can happen to anyone regardless of age.

The faster a stroke is treated the better the results. Unfortunately, the average time before a stroke patient seeks treatment is 24 hours.

WHMC has partnered with our local emergency services and Sacred Heart Medical Center to offer the fastest and best possible stroke care. When EMTs recognize stroke signs they notify our Emergency Department. Our staff meets the ambulance at the door and begins diagnostic tests immediately. They instantly activate the stroke specialists at SHMC for consultation to determine the best treatment for the specific type of stroke. We follow the latest best practices and strict guidelines developed by SHMC’s award winning stroke team.

Stroke symptoms include sudden weakness or numbness especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking, seeing or walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Check these signs fast: :

Face – Does the face look uneven? Ask the person to smile.

Arm – Does one arm drift down? Ask them to raise both arms.

Speech – Does their speech sound strange? Ask them to repeat a phrase.

Time – Call 911. Every second brain cells are dying.

David E. Womack, CEO

Whitman Hospital & Medical Center