Listen Up: Making Kids Stroke Smart May Save Lives
Article reviewed by David Dansereau for know-stroke.org
A new study published in the January issue of the journal Health Promotion Practice may indicate that stroke-related disability could be reduced by teaching children how to spot the signs of stroke in relatives and to call 911 immediately.
Emergency medical treatment within three hours of the first stroke symptoms can limit the extent of brain damage and lead to better recovery.
About the study:
The Kids Identifying and Defeating Stroke (KIDS) project included 515 sixth graders in Texas who were divided into two groups. The students in the intervention group were given four classes about stroke awareness each year during grades 6, 7 and 8.
“As part of the KIDS project, students were also given homework assignments that involved teaching their parents or other adult partners about the signs and symptoms of stroke and the need to call 911 right away if these signs are witnessed,” lead author Kathleen Conley, a professor of health education at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, said in a recent news release.
Assessing Stroke Knowledge:
A pretest about stroke knowledge/awareness was given before the study. Preliminary results from a follow-up test after the second year showed improvements in the intervention group students’ knowledge and their intent to call 911 when seeing someone suffering a stroke.
“We are very encouraged by the results and would like to see more investigation in the area of teaching children about recognizing stroke and motivating them to call 911 immediately,” Conley said.
[Personal Sidebar]
This study gives further evidence for the need for my national stroke awareness goal to produce and make available a stroke PSA video targeted to coaches/parents, educators involved with student athletes.
Here’s a summary of my stroke awareness goal :
The AHA/ASA* and/or NSA** should have a sports related coaches/parents training video (available nationwide) to target adults in contact with young student athletes to improve recognition of ALL the stroke warning signs. This video could easily be linked to every sports program in the state/nation as part of that programs sports website/coaches sign up/parent registration section.
Anyone with talent, time and the desire….Please help me do this.
If you can help please contact me now (401)632-0868
*American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
** National Stroke Association
Erin Proctor, and 
Marcy are discussing. 
Sheila, 
joe, 
Marcy 11:54 pm on December 15, 2009 Permalink |
Hi my name is Marcy , I had TIAS/strokes 12 years ago at age 30. With little to no permanent damage. I was just diagnosed with pfo, i am having a surgery to close on December 28Th. i have been living with symptoms for so long I had just gotten used to feeling bad from time to time. I have been to many doctors over the years, and many ER visits, but no one really seem that concerned. MRIs show many infarct in my cerebellum[8]. although the lab techs always looked surprised, the doctors either looked at me like i was crazy or blamed it on stress, smoking, and birth control, all great explanations all of which i quit,, well stress is impossible, But the symptoms remained.
thanks to an ivf doctor who decided to check into my health back ground, before proceeding. I now may live to see my grandchildren. YES!! more needs to be out there about PFO. It needs to be taken seriously for young ,and old, paying special attention while women are trying to conceive or are pregnant. Hormone level changes your internal ballgame significantly!
I’m afraid of surgery, But way more afraid of the unknown [strokes]. the procedure I’m having is through the groin area an seems to have a very high success rate. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get more info to the public. 25% of the population have this problem. To some it’s life changing even without symptoms, and with symptoms no one seems to take it serious. I was too young to be taken serious at the time, thank God nothing catastrophic happened to me.
looking forward to getting back to a normal stroke free life!
Erin Proctor 10:09 pm on December 21, 2009 Permalink |
I wish you the best on December 28th. I had a stroke in August 2009 and had heart surgery 2 weeks later at UAB in Birmingham Al. I, too, was terrified of surgery but considering the alternative surgery was a breeze. Only four weeks after having surgery I was able to complete a 5k. I have been looking for opportunities to help with stroke awareness. Sadly, very little is out there. Best of luck your way!
David 4:26 pm on December 22, 2009 Permalink |
Thank you Marcy for sharing your story on my blog. I agree with you 100% on getting the word out there re: PFO/stroke/migraine/stress connection and it begins with your voice. I encourage you to spread awareness as I can tell you realize how lucky you are. I started this blog out of the same frustration that you described so well regarding docs missing this so often. Pls keep us all posted on your recovery. You will do great!
ps-I also agree with Erin who recently commented on your post that surgery is a breeze once you get all the options and decide with your physicians it is the right option for you. As Erin posted, you get back to doing very quickly after this procedure. I’m now training for my 2nd Boston Marathon, post stroke and PFO closure and have been migraine free for almost 2.5 years.