A Health Care Support Worker whose life was saved by the quick thinking of a colleague has asked people across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to mark World Stroke Day by getting to know the signs of stroke.
Caroline Swan brought a whole new meaning to the saying “in the right place at the right time” when she suffered a health emergency at work.
She works on a stroke rehabilitation ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, so when she herself displayed signs of a stroke back in January, one of her colleagues knew exactly what to do – and her actions really were a life-saver.
Sharon Woods, Charge Nurse on Ward 56, was the one who spotted something wasn’t right. She sprang into action – and her quick thinking meant Caroline received the help she needed within 45 minutes.
Because of that intervention, within two hours Caroline’s speech was beginning to return, within days she was feeling well, and she is now doing well and back at work.
Caroline is more aware than most about the value of fast action when it comes to stroke. “Sharon saved my life – it’s as simple as that,” she said. “Because of her fast action, and the rest of the team who took care of me, I got the treatment I needed and recovered really well.”
But while it was medical professionals who found Caroline, she is keen to point out that anyone can learn the basic signs of stroke, and that getting help quickly is critical.
She said: “I was lucky – at the time of my stroke, I was among colleagues who are trained to know what to do, but if you take a few minutes to get to know the signs of stroke, you would be able to help a loved one, a workmate, or just someone in the street.”
Sharon echoed those sentiments. She said: “I was glad to be in the right place at the right time when Caroline displayed signs of stroke. I knew what to do, and I was aware that fast action is key in many of these cases.
“Yes, I have specialist training behind me, but anyone can learn the signs of stroke, and what to do if they suspect someone is having one.”
To remember the signs of stroke, all you need to do is say FAST. The FAST acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) is a test to quickly identify if someone is having a stroke.
- Face weakness: Can the person smile?
- Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms?
- Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
- Time to call 999: if you see any of these signs.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde offers a range of services to help treat people suffering stroke. Specialist Emergency Stroke Teams are on duty at A&E departments, and earlier this year a new, highly specialised Thrombectomy suite opened at the Institute for Neurological Sciences, offering a potentially life-saving surgical intervention for people across the west of Scotland.
In addition, NHSGGC offers Thrombolysis, a drug that helps break up blood clots, at hospitals across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Rebecca Fulton, Lead Nurse for the Older People and Stroke Services, said: “Caroline’s experience shows that, when it comes to stroke, speed really is of the essence.
“On World Stroke Day, we’d like to encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the ‘FAST’ signs of stroke – and to act quickly by calling 999 or getting the patient to one of our A&E departments right away.
“If our teams can get to a patient in good time, we can get them the help they need, and hopefully improve their chances of a positive outcome.”
Recent improvements in acute stroke care, such as Thrombectomy and Thrombolysis, are bearing fruit for patients across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and west of Scotland.
Thrombolysis in particular is of growing importance, and it is available across NHSGGC. The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley is the most recent site to offer the service, and many patients have already benefited from its use.
Sharon added: “Our knowledge of stroke and how to treat it is growing, and patients are often seeing more positive outcomes nowadays. But medical teams can only do so much – and if we don’t see a patient quickly the benefits of our efforts can be reduced.
“So, please, take five minutes to learn the FAST signs. It might just save a life like Caroline’s.”
