Community-Based Emergency Care Specialists
The Emergency Department at Forest Park Hospital is a Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) approved center specializing in community-based emergency care. This means its staff is skilled at treating injuries ranging from cuts, sprains and broken bones to heart attack and stroke.

When to Visit Forest Park Hospital’s Emergency Department
There are no definite guidelines regarding when to visit an emergency department, but generally you should get medical attention for such things as:

- Injuries resulting from accidents or falls
- Lacerations or burns
- Abdominal or chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of consciousness
- Erratic behavior
- Unusual bleeding or pains associated with pregnancy.

Know the Signs of Heart Attack and Stroke
It is especially important to be aware of the symptoms of heart attack or stroke, two leading causes of death in the United States. However, just as important as knowing about the symptoms is acknowledging that you are experiencing them. “Time is muscle” is a saying that means the longer you delay seeking treatment for heart attack symptoms, the more damage your heart will sustain. The same is true for stroke; the longer you delay seeking help, the greater your chance for serious disability or death.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Call 911 if you experience:

- A sensation of pressure or pain in the chest, either when you are at rest or active
- Pain radiating down an arm – often the left arm – or to the jaw
- Other symptoms may include sweating, weakness or shortness of breath

In women, heart attack symptoms sometimes differ from that of men. They may include:

- Sudden weakness
- A slight pressure in the chest, or pressure to the back or stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Heart palpitations

Patients already diagnosed with and receiving treatment for the heart condition known as angina pectoris should seek emergency treatment if they experience a new type of pain, or increased intensity or frequency of pain.

Heart attacks occur when a clot blocks an already-narrowed artery in the heart, cutting off the flow of blood. Fortunately, clot-busting medications, together with inventions such as balloon angioplasty and bypass surgery, have made this condition treatable, as long as treatment is sought immediately.

Symptoms of a Stroke:
Call 911 if you experience:

Weakness in your arm, leg or one side of your body
A decrease in your level of consciousness
Disorientation
Difficulty speaking
Dizziness or convulsions
Sudden vision loss
The cause of a stroke may be a blood clot or a hemorrhage (bleeding) in the brain. Clot-busting drugs exist for blood clots in the brain, but their effectiveness in preventing damage depends upon the speed with which help is sought. Recovery from a cerebral hemorrhage is directly related to the length of time blood flow to the affected area of the brain is deficient or completely blocked.

The Bottom Line
The bottom line for reducing the risk of complications or death caused by heart attack or stroke is:

Know the symptoms
Call 911 immediately should you experience any symptoms

Our Location
Forest Park Hospital is located at 6150 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139, 314-768-3333. The Emergency Department entrance is located behind the hospital on Berthold Avenue at Clayton Avenue.