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Recognize Stroke Symptoms

Sometimes symptoms are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when those nearby fail to recognize the symptoms.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking someone suffering a medical event three simple questions:

• Ask the individual to SMILE
• Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS
• Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE

If he or she has trouble with ANY of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm
weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and limit brain damage

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READ and HEED!

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.  Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday.   Maybe we should all take some of his advice!

1.  The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks

2.  Do not sign the back of your credit cards.   Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED"

3. When you are writing checks to  pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card  company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have  access to it

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your  home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS#  printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it

5. Place the contents of  your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit  card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in  a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social  Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a  week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a  Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards  immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card  numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if  there ever is one). But here's what is perhaps most important of all :  (I never even thought to do this)

3. Call the 3 national credit  reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your  name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had  been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert.  Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my  wallet away. This weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks. Now, here are the numbers you always need  to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.  Equifax:  1-800-525-6285
2.  Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.  Trans  Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.  Social Security Administration (fraud line):  1-800-269-0271

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Cell Phones

Call this number - (888) 382-1222.

It is the national DO NOT CALL list. It only takes a minute of your time and blocks your number for 5 years.

You can register online at: www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

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