Common Mistakes to Avoid During Stroke Emergencies

Understanding common errors can prevent dangerous delays and improve outcomes. These mistakes can cost precious brain tissue.

Critical Mistakes:

1. "Wait and See" Approach

- Biggest mistake people make - Wastes golden hour of treatment - Brain loses millions of cells while waiting - Symptoms may worsen rapidly - Better to overreact than under-react

2. Denial and Minimization

- "I'm fine, just tired" - "It'll pass after I rest" - Person may not recognize own symptoms - Family must override their protests - Call 911 despite objections

3. Driving to Hospital

- Symptoms can worsen rapidly - May lose consciousness - Dangerous for everyone - No treatment en route - Ambulance can bypass ER waiting

4. Taking Aspirin

- Helps with heart attacks, NOT strokes - Can worsen hemorrhagic strokes - Let doctors determine stroke type first - Only give medications doctors prescribe

DO vs. DON'T Comparison List:

| DO | DON'T | |---|---| | Call 911 immediately | Wait to see if improves | | Use F.A.S.T. test | Assume it's something else | | Note exact time symptoms started | Forget to track timing | | Keep person calm and still | Let them walk around | | Position properly | Lay completely flat | | Gather medications | Give any medications | | Stay with them | Leave them alone | | Follow dispatcher instructions | Hang up to call family |

Dangerous Delays:

Misidentifying Symptoms

- "Just a headache" - "Probably vertigo" - "Must be exhaustion" - "Side effect of medication" - Any sudden symptom needs evaluation

Cultural/Language Barriers

- May not recognize symptoms - Reluctance to call for help - Communication difficulties - Use translator services - Picture cards can help

Weekend/Night Delays

- "Don't want to bother anyone" - "Will see doctor Monday" - Strokes don't follow business hours - Every hospital has stroke protocols - Time lost is brain lost