Stroke of luck

Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the U.S., and a leading cause of disability.  So it’s nice to hear a happy story about the experience Belmar resident Steve Kulcsar, 45, recently had.  While working a few weeks back as a carpenter on the latest addition to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Steve suddenly began to feel “not right.”  Fortunately for Steve, his co-workers recognized right away the early signs of stroke, and quickly called 911.  Their quick reaction, and their close proximity to JSUMC — which specializes in stroke care — made all the difference.   As a result, this Steve father of 7 was back to work in only 2 weeks time.

Now, let’s hope Steve’s story can help others.  The simple lesson is that when it comes to helping a stroke victim, every second counts.  Here are the warning signs to look for:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

If you see any of these signs, call 911.  Don’t hesitate.