Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 31: KMC Hospital, B R Ambedkar Circle, Mangaluru, organised a World Stroke Day awareness session on Saturday, October 31, at Tower 2, Ground Floor, KMC Hospital, Dr B R Ambedkar Circle, Mangaluru.
The session focused on recognising stroke symptoms, responding to medical emergencies and understanding the importance of timely treatment, with the key objective of empowering participants to become certified first responders in stroke emergencies.
The session was attended by participants from Fitness Institutions, Apartment Associations, Corporates, Voluntary Associations like Rotary and Lions Clubs, professional colleges, and first responders from ambulance associations.
Observed under the theme “Every Minute Counts” and the call to action #ActFast, the session aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge to identify stroke symptoms and respond appropriately.
The programme addressed how to recognise warning signs, what to do when a seemingly healthy person suddenly collapses, and how stroke can affect people across age groups. Participants also learnt about the importance of emergency treatment through the acronym BE FAST, which helps identify common stroke warning signs.
The awareness session was led by Dr Shivananda Pai, consultant neurology, Dr Keerthiraj B, consultant interventional neuroradiologist, Dr Rohit Pai, consultant neurology, and Dr Arpita Shrivastava, consultant neurology, who conducted practical demonstrations on recognising stroke warning signs, immediate first-response steps, and the importance of shifting the patient to a comprehensive stroke-ready hospital within the golden hour.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shivananda Pai, said, “Stroke can happen to anyone, at any time, irrespective of age. The key is to recognise it early. Through BE FAST – Balance loss, Eyesight changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to act – we can identify stroke in the first few minutes. Do not wait for symptoms to resolve on their own, rush to the nearest emergency immediately, because time lost is brain lost.”
Dr Keerthiraj B, said, “In ischaemic stroke, a clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Today we have advanced, minimally invasive treatments like mechanical thrombectomy that can remove the clot and restore blood flow, but the benefit is highly time-dependent. If the community is trained to act as first responders and bring the patient to us within the golden window, we can prevent severe disability and save lives.”
KMC Hospital Mangaluru has treated more than 25,000 stroke cases to date and provides comprehensive stroke care round the clock. Its services include Neurology, Neurosurgery, Interventional Radiology, ICU Care and Neuro Rehabilitation, supporting patients across different stages of stroke treatment and recovery.
The session included practical discussions on identifying stroke symptoms, responding to sudden collapse and understanding why emergency treatment is critical. Through this initiative, KMC Hospital Mangaluru reiterated its commitment to promoting stroke awareness and empowering participants to become certified first responders, helping improve the chances of timely intervention and better patient outcomes.
About Manipal Hospitals
Manipal Hospitals is one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers serving ~ 8 million patients annually, focussed on providing accessible, high-quality healthcare services. Manipal’s integrated network today has a pan-India footprint of 50 hospitals with over 13,400 licensed beds across 14 States & Union Territories. The network is India’s largest multispecialty hospital network by bed capacity, supported by a talented pool of 11,000+ doctors and an employee strength of over 25,000.
With a commitment to provide patient-centric care, Manipal Hospitals combines clinical expertise with advanced technology, research and innovation to serve a multitude of patients across the globe. Its continued focus on clinical quality and operational excellence is reflected in its NABH accreditation, with several of its hospitals also accredited by NABL and recognised for its excellence in nursing and emergency care.