Hundreds of Portland residents will get a potentially life-saving lesson when they visit a local hair salon during May. In honor of National Stroke Awareness Month, Robert's of Portland will offer free red hair extensions.
The hair salon effort is a collaboration between Providence Brain Institute, Robert's of Portland and the American Heart Association. Known locally as Streaks for Stroke, the program is an outreach effort to teach people about stroke. Providence Stroke Center experts have taught Robert's of Portland stylists how to talk with clients about reducing their risks of having a stroke and how to recognize important warning signs. Salons around the nation are taking part in similar programs, which have proven to be an effective way to improve awareness of stroke.
Streaks for Stroke educates men and women to recognize stroke symptoms and the importance of calling 9-1-1. Robert's of Portland clients will receive take-home packets created by Providence Brain Institute and the American Heart Association with information on stroke warning signs and prevention tips. Further details for dates and times will be finalized in April.
On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 45 seconds, and every three minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Knowing the signs of stroke is especially important in Oregon, where the stroke death rate is the fifth highest in the nation. Women are at higher risk than men. In fact, stroke kills more women than men, and twice as many women die from stroke than from breast cancer every year.
Recognizing the signs of a stroke can mean the difference between life or death, between full recovery or severe disability. "Time is brain. The faster a person receives treatment, the greater the chance of reducing brain damage and minimizing the life-changing disability that stroke causes," says Ted Lowenkopf, M.D., medical director of Providence Stroke Center. "Treatment must be given within the first three hours from when stroke symptoms begin, but earlier is better. In an untreated stroke, brain tissue is dying by the minute. That's why it's important to call 9-1-1 at the first sign of stroke."
|
