St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center Stroke Services Feature MEGAbrain at CSU-Pueblo Pack the Park

April 5, 2015

(PUEBLO, COLO.) - The St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center stroke team will be featured at the Slam for Stroke event on April 10 during Friday nights CSU-Pueblos annual Pack the Park baseball game and youth clinic at Runyon Field. The MEGABrain exhibit will be on display, and the team will be providing important information to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke, free blood pressure checks and other activities during the game.

In 2014, the ThunderWolves set the NCAA Division II single-game attendance record as 4,468 people poured through the gates during the program's 10th annual Pack the Park game. The baseball game begins at 7:05 p.m. at Runyon Field, but the stroke screenings and information booths will be open at 4 p.m.

Slam forStroke, a program presented by St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center to increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of calling 911. Seconds count when having a stroke. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death. Emergency medications are available if patients get to the hospital in time, but 80% of the patients do not get to the hospital in time to receive this medication.
Stroke survivors attending Fridays game will be recognized during the 7th inning stretch. In addition, St. Mary-Corwin will be providing blood pressure checks, stroke risk assessments, and information on stroke signs and symptoms. Stroke is highly preventable. Everyone who takes a tour of the free MEGABrain exhibit to learn more will be entered into a drawing for one of four $25 Loaf N Jug gas cards.

Visit the booths right outside the gate to be screened for stroke risk factors including blood sugars and blood pressure checks.

Stroke Urgency/Facts:

  • Getting to the hospital in time and getting the right medication fast reduces disability by 30%. Time is brain! During a stroke, 2 million brain cells are dying per minute
  • Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death.
  • About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.On average, every 4 minutes someone dies of stroke.
  • This year, more than 100,000 U.S. women under 65 will have a stroke.
  • Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer every year.

Stroke Signs and Symptoms
FAST:
Face Does one side of the face droop?
Arms - Does one arm drift downward when raised? Is one arm weak or numb?
Speech - Is speech slurred. Is the sentence repeated correctly?
Time If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

For more information, call (719) 557-5961.
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