St. Gabriel’s Hospital is one of 121 hospitals recognized in Minnesota for their preparedness to evaluate, stabilize and provide emergency treatment to patients with acute stroke symptoms. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability in Minnesota, and outcomes improve for patients when they can get to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.
As a Minnesota Department of Health designated Acute Stroke Ready Hospital, St. Gabriel’s is prepared to provide quick and appropriate treatment to stroke patients, increasing the likelihood of better patient outcomes.
It is important for everyone to know how to spot a stroke quickly and call 911 at the first sign of a stroke. You can recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke by remembering BEFAST.
B – Balance (Is coordination or balance suddenly difficult?)
E – Eyesight (Is there a sudden change in vision?)
F – Face (Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?)
A – Arm (Is one arm weak or numb?)
S – Speech (is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand?)
T – Time (if the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately.)