Mobile Stroke Unit Provides FAST Response for Stroke Sufferers in West DuPage County
Author: Dr. Claire Leegard
On May 8, 2024, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital dispatched a state-of-the-art, specialized ambulance called the Mobile Stroke Unit to serve 20 communities or roughly 500,000 people.
“We’re essentially bringing the hospital to the patient,” said program manager Keely Buffo.
As a DNP and owner of Home Helpers, I could not be more thrilled to know that area residents have a stroke-specific immediate response option in the event a stroke impacts their life or that of a loved one because time matters!
“In a stroke, you’re losing about 2 million neurons per minute. So, us treating patients roughly 30 minutes faster could be the difference between going home with no deficits at all, back to your baseline, or having to go to rehab and learning to walk or talk again,” Buffo said.
The Indiana Department of Public Health (IDPH) defines stroke as “a disease that affects the arteries leading to the brain. It is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.”
A stroke happens when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, meaning some part of the brain will not get the blood and oxygen it needs causing brain cells to die. That’s what makes strokes so dangerous for the sufferer because the sooner they get medical attention, the more successful the outcome.
IDPH uses the acronym F.A.S.T. to recognize when a stroke occurs so you can take action:
F – Face Drooping (asymmetrical features, facial drooping)
A – Arm Weakness (numbness, weakness in one arm)
S – Speech Difficulty (slurred, unintelligible speech)
T – Time to Call 911! (every minute counts so call 911 as soon as you notice a stroke may be occurring.)
Watch for other stroke symptoms, too:
- Numbness/Weakness (face, arm, or leg)
- Confusion (trouble speaking or understanding speech)
- Trouble Seeing (vision loss in one or both eyes)
- Trouble Walking (dizziness, loss of coordination and/or balance)
- Severe Headache (with no known cause)
Buffo said roughly half of stroke victims don’t call 911, so I strongly encourage you to pay attention and watch for these symptoms so you can proactively advocate for yourself or a loved one and call 911 ASAP if or when a stroke occurs! Residents in West DuPage County who suffer a stroke may encounter the Mobile Stroke Unit for FAST medical attention.
A highly trained, compassionate Home Helpers® caregiver can make life easier with specialized care including support for stroke recovery for you or a loved one. I gladly offer a FREE Consultation to assess specific needs, discuss the in-home care services we provide, and create a personalized care plan tailored for you.
Home Helpers® Wheaton & Naperville is proudly Making Life Easier℠ for veterans, differently abled, and senior men and women in Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estate, Roselle, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Schaumburg, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield.
Our team is honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and the Employer of Choice Awards 2024, as well as the 2024 Caring Super Star Award from Caring.com. Contact our award-winning team today if we can help make life easier for you or a senior you love: 630.800.3837
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