Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. It's very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. Call MCMC's Inpatient Physical Rehab Unit for more information about rehab for stroke patients at (231) 592-4444.
Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning.
Here are the signs:
Sudden loss of responsiveness (no response to tapping on shoulders).
No normal breathing (the victim does not take a normal breath when you tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds).
If these signs of cardiac arrest are present, ask someone to call 9-1-1 at once and obtain and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available-these are often kept in many public buildings and homes. Begin CPR immediately. If you are alone with an adult who has these signs of cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and get an AED before you start CPR. Use the AED as soon as it arrives-instructions are included on the device and AED use is now part of CPR training."
Every adult should learn CPR--MCMC offers CPR classes (below).
CPR Class
If you are interested in learning CPR, call Mecosta County Medical Center's Education Department at (231) 592-4380 and ask about the American Heart Association's "Heartsaver CPR with adult, child, and infant" class.
This course is designed for the general public and is an ideal course for day care providers, teachers, and anyone interested in taking a CPR course. Your certification will be good for 2 years. The fee is $25.00 and the class is located in Mecosta County Medical Center's Classroom on the third floor.
Dates/Times: All sessions will be from 5:00-9:00 PM. (End time is approximate).
Tuesday, April 3
Tuesday, August 7
Tuesday, December 4
Registration: Required |
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Freedom From smokingŪ
The American Lung Association's Freedom From SmokingŪ program is available on the internet. It's an interactive course designed to educate and modify the behavior patterns of a smoker. There are no waiting lists and this course if free of charge.
Dates/times: or night, 7 days a week, on any schedule the smoker chooses to start the process of quitting. To register for the clinic, go to: www.kintera.org.
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Cardiologists Available at Mecosta County Medical Center's Specialty Clinics
If you need to see a Cardiologist, call (231) 592-4440 to schedule and appointment. (Physician referral required).
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Dr. Grove |
J. Robert Grove, M.D., F.A.C.C. and
Maurice. Norman, M.D., F.A.C.C. - from West Michigan Heart in Grand Rapids, see patients at MCMC's Specialty Clinics located in the
Professional Office Building on the Mecosta County Medical Center's campus. Visit www.mcmcbr.com to learn more about other specialists available at MCMC. |
Dr. Norman |
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| Cardiac Rehabilitation Week |
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 MCMC's Cardiac Rehabilitation Week will be celebrated nationally from February 11-February 17, 2007. The theme this year is "Live and Learn with Heart." Cardiac Rehab was formally introduced in the 1960's on an inpatient basis as it was discovered that patients improved when they were ambulating rather than lying in bed for several weeks. Since then, medical and surgical interventions have changed dramatically and as a result, increasing numbers of patients are surviving cardiovascular events that would formerly have meant death. MCMC's unit supervises over 70 cardiac patients 2-3 times a week. Education and exercise are the primary goals of the program but the benefits go far beyond these factors. The camaraderie and support that the patients provide to one another is another asset.We have been able to provide this service to the community for over ten years now, and hope to be around for many more years to come. If you have any questions about the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center at MCMC, please call (231) 592-4370.
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