May is Stroke Awareness Month

May is Stroke Awareness Month. Both physicians and the general public can participate to increase awareness.

For our members and other emergency physicians, we encourage you to submit public comments to The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Stroke Performance Oversight Committee, regarding performance measures for acute ischemic stroke (see below).

For the public, we encourage you you to brush up on your awareness of recognizing stroke symptoms and knowing what steps to take in case of that emergency (see below).


Submit Public Comments 

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Stroke Performance Oversight Committee is seeking public comments on performance measures for acute ischemic stroke. As stewards of guidelines for stroke care, the AHA/ASA is uniquely qualified to develop high quality performance measures based on guidelines produced by the AHA/ASA.

We invite your organization to participate in this public comment period and appreciate your willingness to provide important feedback on these measures.

The public comment period will be open from May 1, 2013 through May 30, 2013.

Please go to www.heart.org/HEARTORG/performanceMeasure/performanceMeasure.jsp?campaign=AIS30 to review the measures and submit comments. Thanks for your time and involvement.

- American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Performance Oversight Committee


Increase Awareness 
Share AAEM's stroke awareness press release to help increase public awareness. 

Did you know?
According to the National Stroke Association:

• Approximately 795,000 strokes will occur this year, one occurring every 40 seconds, and taking a life approximately every four minutes.
  
• Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex, or age.
  
•  In the United States, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death, killing over 133,000 people each year, and a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability.

It is our goal as emergency physicians to not only be experts in how to treat this condition, but also to play an active role in educating the public by encouraging awareness of stroke. Awareness leads to earlier detection and better outcomes for those affected.

For more information on strokes and stroke prevention tips, visit the National Stroke Association website at www.stroke.org.

For more information about AAEM, our mission, and programs, please visit our website at www.AAEM.org.