Thanks to Michael Mccarthy in the US for this very useful information.

As many of you know, Rinconeer Robin Burchett is recoverying well from his stroke last year, so the following information is rather poinant.

Is It A Stroke?

This might be a lifesaver if we can remember the

three questions!

Is it a Stroke?

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to

identify.

Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster

for the stroke victim. A stroke victim may suffer

brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the

symptoms of a stroke Now doctors say any bystander

can recognize a stroke by asking three simple

questions:

   1. Ask the individual to smile.

   2. Ask him or her to raise both arms.

   3. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

   If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks,

call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

    After discovering that a group of non-medical

volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm

weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the

general public to learn the three questions. They

presented their conclusions at the American Stroke

Association's 2004 annual meeting.

Widespread use of this test could result in prompt

diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent

brain damage.

   Is It A Heart Attack?

    Read this... It could save your life!!

    Let's say it's 6.15 P.M. and you're driving home

(alone of course), after an unusually hard day on the

job. You're really tired, upset, and

 frustrated.  Suddenly you start experiencing severe

pain in your chest that starts

 to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw.

You are only about five miles from the hospital

nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if

you'll be able to make it that far. You have been

trained in CPR, but the  guy that taught the course

did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.

   HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

   Since many people are alone when they suffer a

heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is

beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has

only about 10 seconds left before losing

consciousness.  However, these victims can help

themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously.

 A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and

the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when

producing sputum from deep inside the chest.  A breath

and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds

without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart

is felt to be beating normally again.

    Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and

coughing movements squeeze the

 heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing

pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal

rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a

hospital.

Tell as many people as possible about this. It

could save their lives!!