BALTIMORE, Md. – A pilot initiative led by MedStar Health nurses has shown that targeted training for police officers can dramatically improve their ability to recognize the signs of stroke, reducing the time between encountering a stroke victim and getting them the fast, appropriate medical care they need.
Police are often the first to respond to emergencies where stroke symptoms can easily be mistaken for other conditions such as intoxication, Parkinson’s disease, urinary tract infections, or low blood sugar. Those misinterpretations, while understandable, can delay life-saving treatment and lead to catastrophic outcomes.
To address this, a clinical team from the Comprehensive Stroke Center at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center designed an education program for Baltimore County Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. Over two weeks, 31 officers participated in 15–20 minute “huddle” trainings led by nurses specializing in emergency medicine and neurology.
The training sessions focused on the BEFAST mnemonic: balance, eyes, face, arm, speech and time, a simple, evidence-based tool that helps first responders quickly recognize potential strokes.
