Calling 9-1-1 the vital first step in Jack Daley’s survival and recovery

On January 30 of this year, Norma Daley went outside to check on her husband Jack when he seemed to be taking too long to shovel the driveway. Finding him collapsed in the snow and ice, she immediately called 9-1-1.

Peterborough EMS responded to Norma’s call, assessed Jack for the signs and symptoms of stroke, and brought him directly to the Emergency Department at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) for evaluation. Within 46 minutes, Jack was assessed and receiving treatment for his stroke with t-PA – the “clot-busting drug.”

“The emergency response time in a case like Mr. Daley’s is critical,” says Chris Barry, Deputy Chief of Operations with Peterborough EMS. “Calling 9-1-1 is one of the most important things you need to do right away if you suspect your loved one is having a stroke. What happens in the first few hours after that point is crucial.”

Jack has been on a gradual road to recovery since the day he was brought to PRHC, moving from the Emergency Department through to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), then to the Integrated Stroke Unit (ISU). In the ISU, he received targeted, stroke-specific acute and rehabilitation care by an interdisciplinary team as part of the hospital’s stroke program.

“The continuum of care offered by the stroke team at PRHC is such a vitally important service for our patients as they recover – from emergency care right through to the rehabilitation process,” says Jennifer White, District Stroke Coordinator with PRHC. “It has been such a wonderful and rewarding experience for Jack’s team of health care professionals to participate in and witness his steady improvement over the past five months.”

Jack was released from the hospital on March 5, and has been recovering at home since then. He now comes to the hospital twice weekly for outpatient rehabilitation therapy, with Norma always by his side. The couple says they are grateful for the excellent care they have received.

Additional information:

  • The “FAST” acronym is used to identify the symptoms of stroke: Face (drooping?) • Arms (can you raise both?) • Speech (slurred or jumbled?) • Time (call 9-1-1)
  • According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, someone has a stroke every nine minutes in Canada.

-30-