Credits Hours: 1.50

Course Description:
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It affects people of all ages and walks of life. Considerable research has been done on aggressive treatment modalities for patients experiencing a stroke. This course will address the etiology of stroke, and provide the EMS professional with assessment and treatment guidelines for managing stroke patients, including a checklist that addresses inclusion/exclusion criteria for thrombolytic therapy.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the etiology of stroke, including the two major types and the three conditions that cause blockages.
• Describe the biochemical sequence of events that occur during a stroke, which explain why stroke must be treated without delay.
• Gather specific information regarding the vital signs that EMS professionals need to evaluate, continuously reassess, and make key differential diagnoses.
• Evaluate the advantages a stroke team can offer, which justify the importance of EMS in stroke care.