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Date: 8/23/2023
MONSON — The Monson Fire Department will go over the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke and heart attack as well as tips for prevention and recovery at the Senior Center on Aug. 31. This presenation is part of the department’s monthly program at the Senior Center called Lunch & Learn, during which different topics, ranging from fire safety to health related topics, are discussed.
Everyone is welcomed to come at 106 Main Street at noon for lunch and stay for the presentation at 12:30 p.m.
Capt. paramedic Lisa Hamill said, “A lot of people don’t recognize the signs of stroke and heart attack or they recognize that they’re having the symptom, but they don’t relate it to possibly having a stroke or heart attack.” She continued, “Those are two emergencies that need immediate intervention at an emergency room, so we want people to quickly recognize the signs and symptoms then call 911 so they can get the treatment that they need.”
The department will be discussing the warning signs of each specific disease process. When it comes to a stroke, they look at patients who have high blood pressure, patients who smoke, patients who have preexisting conditions like atrial fibrillation are at higher risk for stroke. Then they’ll discuss how to recognize if you or someone else is having a stroke such as sudden onset of confusion, difficulty speaking, sudden loss of use of one side of the body like the arm or leg and quickly recognizing that could be a sign that you’re having a stroke and not delaying to call 911.
Hamill explained, “A lot of times what we find is somebody will have a symptom and they’ll call a family member or a friend or wait and call their doctor. With a stroke, it’s critical that we get them emergency treatment right away so that it can be resolved.”
When it comes to a heart attack, Hamill said they’re a little bit sneakier. They’ll talk about the typical signs that everyone knows like left-sided arm pain, chest pain, jaw pain, but shortness of breath when someone is exerting. The department will also discuss the medications people may be taking and making sure they’re taking their medication properly. “We’re seeing an uptick in the pain migrating to the right shoulder as opposed to the left shoulder,” Hamill replied. “If you have these symptoms and they’re out of nowhere, don’t ignore but seek treatment.”
She went on to say, “Doctors are so busy right now and they don’t necessarily have the time to fully educate everyone on the proper use of their medications or the proper management of their symptoms. We have to bridge that gap in the field and make sure people are being safe.”
The takeaway Hamill wants people to have for this program is to not be afraid to ask questions and if they want more information the fire department is a good place to start. Her goal is for the program to keep growing; the more people they can educate on these topics the safer people can be in their lives.
Call the Monson Senior Center at 413-267-4142 by Aug. 30 to reserve a lunch seat.