Code Stroke: Urgent Emergency Care Received

We wrote, directed, and produced this stroke protocol vignette as part 2 of 4 protocols Heart and Stroke Canada wanted to highlight. Filmed on location at Victoria General Hospital with the assistance of BC Ambulance Service and Vancouver Island Health Authority. We used real first responders and health care/stroke experts in all of these videos. When paramedics let an Emergency Department know they are on their way with a suspected stroke patient, this ensures the team is prepared to start diagnosis and treatment as soon as the patient arrives. Once the ambulance arrives at the hospital, the patient is transferred without delay along with a full report including the time of stroke onset or the time the patient was last known to be well. The Emergency Department physician then evaluates the patient for signs of stroke and the patient is then sent for an urgent CT scan. Know the signs of stroke – FAST Face – is it drooping? Arms – can you raise both? Speech – is it slurred or jumbled? Time – to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency service right away. http://www.heartandstroke.ca/FAST