Washington, DC - A new study conducted by researchers at Georgetown University Medical suggests that efforts to educate African Americans about stroke symptoms -- and what to do when they occur -- aren't hitting the mark with this high-risk population. The study was published this week in the journal Stroke.

Researchers surveyed 253 volunteers in one urban community and asked them what they would do if they had a stroke. Eighty nine percent of respondents said they would first call 911. But when the team interviewed 100 actual stroke patients (or their proxies) and asked what they did when their strokes occurred, only 12% reported calling 911 first. Most -- 75% -- initially reacted to their symptoms by calling a friend or family member. Many of these said they didn't think their symptoms were serious or significant enough to warrant a call to 911, the researchers found. Some patients said they delayed calling for help because they didn't think medical intervention could benefit them.

Another common misperception about stroke cited in the paper: Many patients didn't realize they were having a stroke. Many said they thought chest pain was a common symptom. In general, calling a friend when one needs help isn't a bad instinct. But when it comes to treating a stroke, precious minutes can make a tremendous difference. If a patient arrives at the hospital too late, he or she cannot receive treatments such as the medication tPA, which helps break up a blood clot, mitigating the long-term effects of the stroke. In fact, blacks do receive tPA less often than whites do, study coauthors said.

The National Stroke Assn. advises people to use the acronym FAST to quickly tell if a loved one is having a stroke: F – Face – Does one side of the face droop? A – Arms – Can they lift both arms, or does one drift downward? S – Speech – Can they repeat back a phrase without slurring? T – Time – Call 911 immediately if they have these symptoms. Medications can be given within three hours of the stroke that reduce long-term disability.