Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION By: Larry Kusch Posted: 06/6/2014 1:00 AM | Comments: MANITOBA has the highest rate of death due to stroke of any province west of the Maritimes and remains the only one without a dedicated stroke unit. According to a report by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadians living in Alberta and Quebec have the best chance of surviving a stroke, followed by those in British Columbia and Ontario. Weariness: Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary.Trouble speaking: Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary.Vision problems: Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary.Headache: Sudden severe and unusual headache.Dizziness: Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Death rate from stroke per 100,000 population: Alberta 15.9Quebec 16.7British Columbia 17.5Ontario 17.9Canada 17.9Saskatchewan 19.2Manitoba 19.9iYukon, Nunavut, NWT combned 20.4 Prince Edward Island 20.9Nova Scotia 22.0New Brunswick 22.4Newfoundland 29.9 source: Heart and Stroke Foundation Originally posted here: Manitoba a bad place to suffer a stroke: report … Continue reading →

A new project to extend the amount of treatments a paramedic can deliver to a suspected stroke patient has been approved Stroke patients in the North East will benefit from a new project to increase on-scene treatment. North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has been given a financial boost of 72,000 to extend the amount of treatments a paramedic can deliver to a suspected stroke sufferer before arrival at hospital. It is hoped that the 12-month clinical research will improve knowledge about stroke treatments through increasing opportunities for research during paramedic assessment and improving the transfer of information between ambulance and hospital records. Paul Fell, consultant paramedic at NEAS said: This is great news for the patient and the paramedic profession, having access to the data and enhancing the paramedic training not only allows the paramedic to be more involved in the whole patient episode but will without doubt increase the paramedics knowledge around strokes and their evolving treatment of these cases. NHS Medical Director Sir Bruce Keoghs Urgent and Emergency Care Review, published in January 2013, recommended that ambulance crews be supported to make their own independent interventions on stroke patients. The new project is a collaboration between … Continue reading →