Jeddah: The Red Crescent saves a Sudanese woman in her seventies from a stroke
Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Jeddah Governorate recorded a new success story added to their record full of humanitarian and medical achievements, as they were able to save the life of a Sudanese resident in her seventies, after she suffered a severe stroke that almost killed her, were it not for divine care and then the urgent and professional medical intervention.
Report details and rapid response
The incident began when the Authority's Command, Control, and Medical Dispatch Center received an urgent report at 10:00 AM on Thursday. The report stated that an elderly woman was suffering from sudden and serious health symptoms, including severe weakness on the right side of her body and loss of speech, strong medical indicators warranting immediate intervention due to the suspicion of a stroke.
Emergency medical teams immediately responded to the scene, where the patient was treated according to internationally recognized medical protocols for such critical cases. After initial examination and clinical assessment, paramedics confirmed their suspicion of a stroke, prompting the immediate activation of the stroke pathway.
Activating the stroke pathway and its importance
Activating the stroke pathway is a vital procedure in the Saudi healthcare system. This involves direct coordination between the Red Crescent operations room and the medical control physician, who then notifies the receiving hospital before the patient's arrival. This advance coordination allows the specialized medical team at the hospital to be fully prepared to receive the patient, bypassing routine procedures in the emergency department. This enables immediate access to specialized care, including imaging and interventional treatments (such as clot dissolving), in record time.
Medical studies indicate that time is the crucial factor in treating strokes, with doctors referring to the initial period of injury as the "golden hour." Every minute that passes without treatment can lead to damage to millions of nerve cells, making the speed of the Red Crescent's response a key factor in reducing complications and permanent disabilities.
Red Crescent efforts and the development of ambulance services
This achievement reflects the significant progress made by the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, both in terms of training its personnel, including paramedics and emergency physicians, and in upgrading the technological equipment in its command and control centers. The Authority continuously strives to enhance its response to critical cases and strengthen the readiness of its field teams to handle various medical emergencies, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to improve the quality of healthcare services and increase survival rates from chronic and emergency diseases.
At the conclusion of the incident, the authority confirmed that the speed of reporting by the patient’s family, the efficiency of the emergency response, and the integration of efforts between the field teams and the medical facility were all essential reasons that contributed to stabilizing the patient’s condition and increasing her chances of survival, stressing the importance of community awareness of stroke symptoms to ensure that help is sought in a timely manner.
