Kids Who Play This Video Game Could Save Your Life

Stroke Hero
Stroke Hero

By Jennifer Brown, PhD, Everyday Health

A new video game called Stroke Hero teaches kids how to save a life - by recognizing the signs of stroke.

The educational video game made a lasting difference, as reported by the American Heart Association's journal Stroke. Even seven weeks later, kids who played Stroke Hero remembered what they had learned, found Olajide Williams, MD, an associate professor of neurology at Columbia University in New York.

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In Stroke Hero, kids pilot a clot-busting spaceship through a person's arteries. They shoot down blood clots that block blood flow to the brain, and watch out for plaques blocking their way along the blood vessels. In order to refuel so they can keep playing, kids must correctly answer questions about stroke.

This novel study design proved to be a big success in its first trial, which involved 210 children of ages 9 to 10 from a low-income, high stroke risk community in the Bronx, New York. The fact that kids who played Stroke Hero kids were 31 percent more likely to identify stroke signs and call 9-1-1 could benefit any one of us if a heart-smart kid is around when stroke hits.

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"Children are very tech savvy these days - I think that elementary-aged children should be taught the warning signs of heart attack and stroke just as we teach them about fire safety and other dangers," said cardiologist Kevin Campbell, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and President of K-Roc Consulting. Dr. Campbell was not involved with the study.

Making Stroke Education Part of ABCs

People who are having symptoms of stroke call 9-1-1 only 4 percent of the time, said study investigator Dr. Williams; bystanders and witnesses are responsible for the remainder of calls. "But even they might become paralyzed by confusion over what to do, and what to do is critical because life-saving stroke treatments are time dependent," Williams emphasized. "Sometimes the kids are the only ones around. Teaching them how to recognize symptoms and what to do is already saving lives."

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When stroke hits, the victim may suddenly be unable to communicate because of immediate damage to the brain. Family members and bystanders - yes, even children - can get help FAST, if they recognize the signs of stroke:

  • FACE: One side of the face may droop.

  • ARMS: One arm may drift downward if the person tries to raise both arms.

  • SPEECH: When asked to repeat a simple phrase, speech may be slurred or strange.

  • TIME: See any of these signs? Call 9-1-1 immediately. Every minute counts.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability, and it can strike at any age. Each year, there are about 795,000 strokes, according to the National Stroke Association.

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Because heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States today, prevention should start early, said Dr. Campbell. "Children who learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke at school are more likely to educate their parents, families, friends and neighbors."

"Schools can play an integral role in prevention," he added.

And what better way to hook children on vital health lessons than with video games?

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This article originally appeared on EverydayHealth.com: Kids Who Play This Video Game Could Save Your Life