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201420BlakeHurstYoumeetaneighbourwalkingherdogonthecottageroadandremarkYourelookingwell.HerreplyisThanksIfeelprettydarngoodconsideringIsufferedastrokelastmonth.Thepersoninfrontofyoudoesnotmatchyourmentalpictureofastrokevictim.HowdidthismiraclehappenAlmostinvariablyasthestoryunfoldsitwillturnoutthatyourneighbourandthepeoplearoundherinstantlyrecognizedwhatwashappeningasstrokesymptomsandmadeafastandfirmdecisiontocall911.ThehealthcaresysteminOntariohasworldclassprotocolsforthetreatmentofstrokeandIalwayssaythebestentrypointintothesystemisthroughthebackdoorofanambulance.ParamedicsareskilledatrecognizingstrokemanagingthepatientandmostimportantlytransportingquicklyandsafelytotheappropriatehospitalwhichisnotalwaystheclosesthospitalThewindowofopportunitytoreceiveclot-bustingTPAtissueplasminogenactivatortherapyandhavetheRespondingtoStrokeinCottageCountrytreatmentworkitsmagicisthreehours.ThepatientmustgotoahospitalthatisequippedtoperformaCTScantoconfirmthatitisindeedthetypeofstrokethatwouldbenefitfromTPAtherapyandthatcanadministerthetherapywithinthethree-hourwindow.Thesoonertheclotcanbedissolvedandbloodflowtotheaffectedpartofthebraincanberestoredthegreaterthelikelihoodofarapidandcompleterecoverywithminimallife-changingdeficits.Distancesincottagecountryincreasethetimefromparamediccontactwiththepatienttothedeliveryofdefinitivetreatmentbydoctors.Thetimevariablethatcottagerscancontrolisthetimefromwhenstrokesymptomsarefirstobservedtowhenthe911callismade.Theonsetofstrokeisusuallysudden.SymptomsmayincludeconfusionortroublespeakingorunderstandingspeechtroublewithvisioninoneorbotheyesnumbnessorweaknessofthefacearmorlegespeciallyononesideofthebodytroublewalkingdizzinesslossofcoordinationsevereheadachewithnoknowncauseIfyouobservethesesymptomsinapersonofanyagemakethemcomfortableandcall911immediately.BlakeHurstisaprofessionaleducatorandconsultantspecializingincardiacemergencyresponseprogramming.ContacttheFOCAofficeinfofoca.on.catobeconnectedwithBlakeforgrouppresentationsaboutstrokeandheartattackpreventionatthelakeandtheuseofportableAutomatedExternalDefibrillators.FOCAhaspartneredformanyyearswiththeMinistryoftheEnvironmentonvolunteerwater-qualitymonitoringpro-grams.ThegoaloftheLakePartnerProgramLPPistobetterunderstandandprotectthequalityofOntariosinlandlakesbyinvolvingcitizensinavolunteer-basedwaterqualitymon-itoring.TheLPPisaprovince-wideeffort.IsyourwaterbodybeingsampledFindouthowtogetinvolvedwww.foca.on.casearchlakepartnerLakePartnerProgram