Encourage your children to be stroke heroes

Health experts are calling on children to become ‘stroke heroes’, to help limit the often devastating long-term effects that the condition can cause.

A stroke should always be considered a serious medical emergency, and swift medical treatment is vital. But with as many as one in four adults likely to have a stroke at some point in their lives, teaching our children what to look out for, and what to do if the worst should happen, might well save someone’s life.

The team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Stroke Center want all children across the UAE to remember one thing – B.E.F.A.S.T.

This simple acronym highlights the main warning signs of a stroke that they should look out for, and reminds them that they must act quickly:

• Balance: Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
• Eyes: Is the person having difficulty focusing or are they experiencing double vision? Can they see clearly?
• Face: Is the person able to smile fully? Is their face drooping on one side?
• Arms: Can the person raise both arms or does one arm drop?
• Speech: Is the person able to speak? Is their speech slurred or strange?
• Time: Time is of the essence. Call 999 immediately if you see any of these signs.

Although a stroke is a life-threatening condition, it is treatable. Talking to your children about what they could do in this situation has the potential to make a real difference.

Don’t be afraid to discuss how serious a stroke is, but always reinforce the message that they could end up doing something truly amazing one day.