Some superheroes wear capes, but some wear everyday clothes and work beside us. Today, on World Stroke Day, we are recognizing and celebrating the life-saving actions of one of MacLean’s own, Holly Stewart, whose first aid training helped prevent a potentially devastating situation.
Swift Action Saves a Life in Aberdeen
It started as an ordinary workday for Holly Stewart, an Internal Sales Representative at MacLean in Aberdeen. Upon arriving at the office, Holly was called to assist a colleague who had become suddenly unwell while making his early morning coffee. The colleague, a member of the warehouse team, experienced dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, a headache, and excessive sweating.
As one of three First Aiders at MacLean’s Aberdeen branch, Holly quickly assessed the situation, recalling that providing detailed information to emergency services was crucial. She asked the colleague for his name, date of birth, age, and medical history. Noticing that he was struggling to repeat basic information and showed signs of slurred speech and a drooping face, she suspected a stroke.
The Importance of Acting FAST
Recognizing the urgency, Holly immediately called emergency services, sharing her suspicion of a stroke. She followed the dispatcher’s guidance to perform a series of tests which involved asking the patient to:
- Raise both arms
- Smile
- Repeat a simple phrase
Unfortunately, this did in fact indicate a stroke and emergency services were quickly dispatched to our facility where Holly had been keeping the patient calm and comfortable as possible whilst monitoring for further signs of deterioration. responders arrived shortly, and thanks to Holly’s prompt actions, her colleague received vital treatment that significantly improved his chances of recovery. After a brief hospital stay, he is now at home, making a full recovery.
Lessons Learned: First Aid Matters
Reflecting on the experience, Holly shared, “that day, I learned how to put my first aid training into practice in a real-life situation, which thankfully rarely happens. It was also really important for me to remain calm and try to remember the correct approach to take whilst keeping the patient’s stress levels as low as possible.” Holly’s quick thinking was praised by emergency services for early stroke recognition, which is key to successful stroke treatment.
Why Everyone Should Know the Signs of a Stroke
Holly encourages everyone to learn the basics of stroke recognition. Knowing the signs and acting FAST can reduce the life-threatening effects of a stroke:
- Face – Does it look uneven, numb, or drooping?
- Arm – Is one arm numb or drifting downward?
- Speech – Is it slurred or confusing?
- Time – Call 999 URGENTLY (United Kingdom emergency services) if you see these signs.
George Breen, MacLean’s Operations Manager, expressed pride in Holly’s actions, saying, “Holly volunteered to become a First Aider at MacLeans 3 years ago. We are immensely proud of her and how she brought her training into a real-life situation, calmly but swiftly swinging into action and contributing to this successful outcome.”
World Stroke Day 2024: Be #GreaterThan Stroke
The theme for this year’s World Stroke Day is “Be #GreaterThan Stroke.” It encourages everyone to reduce the risk of stroke by exercising for at least 30 minutes daily. For more information, visit the World Stroke Day Campaign website: https://www.world-stroke.org/world-stroke-day-campaign.
Promoting Stroke Awareness and Safety
At MacLean, we prioritize safety practices to protect our team members and encourage everyone to be aware of potential health emergencies. Understanding the signs of a stroke and knowing how to act can make a significant difference.
Stay informed. Stay prepared. Know the signs and always be ready to act FAST.
#greaterthan #brainhealth #strokecare #strokeawareness #preventstroke #knowthesigns #worldstrokeday2024
