Joe Canale knows firsthand the importance of time when it comes to treating stroke victims. In 2019 his wife suffered a carotid artery dissection and was recovering at home following her surgery when she had a stroke.
As a longtime Assistant Chief with the Bryn Athyn Fire Company, Canale was familiar with a mobile stroke unit that was available through the Bensalem Rescue Squad, so he put in a request for an immediate response and helped prevent what could have been a catastrophic outcome for his wife.
“Once the MSU arrived, they were able to do a CT scan on-site and a neurosurgeon popped up on the screen to assess her condition immediately. We then flew her to Jefferson Hospital in Center City via helicopter and they performed surgery to remove a blood clot. Fortunately for us, she was able to make a full recovery,” says Canale.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, according to statistics provided by the American Heart Association. About 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic strokes, which are caused by the blockage of an artery, while hemorrhagic strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain. In 2021, stroke accounted for about 1 out of every 21 deaths in the U.S.
No matter the type of stroke, early action is extremely important. Patients who arrive at the emergency room within three hours of their first symptoms often have less disability three months after a stroke than those who received delayed care.
Following his wife’s experience with the MSU, Canale, who also serves as a Commissioner and Board Vice President for Lower Moreland Township, made it his mission to bring this “lifesaver on wheels” to Montgomery County.
“Commissioner Canale was instrumental in bringing the folks at Bensalem EMS and Jefferson Health together to explore the possibility of bringing this valuable resource to the Lower Moreland and Bryn Athyn communities through the Bryn Athyn Fire Company and Huntingdon Valley Fire Company [both of which now operate as part of Fetters Mill Fire Rescue],” says Mark Showmaker, Chief of Emergency Services for Lower Moreland Township.
The mobile stroke unit went live in Montgomery County on July 15, due to the partnership of the Lower Moreland/Bryn Athyn EMS providers along with Bensalem EMS and Jefferson Health’s Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, which provided the funding for the $1.2 million lifesaving vehicle.
Once dispatched, the truck has the capability of providing CT scans on board, along with a live telemedicine consult with a Jefferson-based neurologist who can assess the patient and determine whether clot-busting drugs need to be provided on-site, which can prevent permanent brain damage or disability.
“We know that with stroke, time saves lives as well as brain tissue,” says Canale. “By having this resource we can easily save up to 45 minutes from the onset of symptoms to intervention, resulting in less damage and/or reversal of a clot-caused stroke.”
In addition to treating the patient while they’re still in their driveway, adds Canale, “We’re able to bypass the hospital registration process, avoid waiting for a CT scanner to become available and provide clot-busting drugs if needed. Even though we’re delaying the time spent getting to the hospital, we have a dedicated team of first responders working virtually with neurologists to get the patient stabilized before they even get to the hospital.”
If you think you’re having a stroke, the American Stroke Association urges you to “B.E. F.A.S.T.” and call 911 if you experience any of the following symptoms:
B – Balance loss
E – Eyes burning
F – Face drooping or numbness
A – Arm weakness
S — Speech difficulty
T – Time to call 911
“The impact on our community and patient outcomes is tremendous,” says Canale. “Lives are being saved through this cutting-edge equipment and the ability of our first responders to evaluate and treat patients curbside. Through this partnership with Jefferson Health and Bensalem EMS, we’re on our way to becoming national leaders at the forefront of providing immediate, lifesaving care to residents in Bucks and Montgomery counties.” ••
