Free stroke prevention educational program set Dec. 9

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church parish nurses team will sponsor an educational program on stroke prevention from 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, in the parish hall at 200 Second St., Lewes.

The free session will be presented by Bobbi Lynn Cole, BSN, RN, CCRN-K, stroke program coordinator at Beebe Healthcare.

Refreshments will be provided, and everyone who attends will get a personalized booklet filled with educational material and helpful tips. No reservations are required.

Stroke is a relatively common but potentially life-threatening occurrence. The first signs can be subtle: fatigue, lightheadedness, headaches or tingling sensations. Common red flags include sudden loss of vision, slurred speech, intense numbness or weakness, and abrupt confusion. Any time a stroke is suspected, getting medical care quickly is critical.

“Time is brain” is a slogan used to emphasize the importance of fast stroke response and treatment. Every minute counts when a patient is experiencing a stroke, because each minute that passes without adequate blood and oxygen flow to the brain equates to thousands of destroyed brain cells.

“When emergency responders arrive and assess a stroke patient, they immediately begin collecting and sharing information with us so that we can prepare for the patient and put plans in place to expedite their care, before they even arrive to the emergency room,” said Cole.

Beebe is designated as a Primary Stroke Center, which means it has both resources and processes in place to care for acute stroke patients. Beebe partners with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia to provide high-quality, safe, effective care to patients suffering from acute stroke.

To learn more about Beebe Healthcare’s stroke program, go to beebehealthcare.org/services/neurology-stroke.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church’s parish nurses are an important part of the healing and lay eucharist ministers’ teams who collaborate on visiting homes, bringing fellowship to the sick and homebound, sponsoring a caregivers support group, and hosting educational forums to keep people informed about health conditions and wellness.

For more information about the program, contact Mary Anne LaTorre at malinvis@yahoo.com.