You think someone is having a stroke, but aren't sure what to do.

By the time you recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke, it could be too late.Unfortunately, many individuals who arrive at emergency rooms do so well after the time to receive the clot-busting medication.Fully aware of that, Blue Mountain Health System held a pair of mock stroke drills at its two campuses Thursday morning.The mock drills were held in the emergency rooms of Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital campus in Lehighton and Palmerton Hospital.Both hospitals are now certified primary stroke centers, according to Lisa Johnson, vice president of public relations and marketing.Johnson said the drills were mandated to help Blue Mountain meet the Joint Commission stroke certification annual standards for ongoing education for physicians, nurses, lab, rehab and radiology staff, along with EMS providers in the community.Dorothy Patzek, vice president of nursing, said the objective is to continue to provide the highest level of stroke care.Patzek said the hospitals have conducted mock trials before, and that it is important to continue doing so on an annual basis."It's very important for the community to recognize the warnings signs of a stroke," said Patzek, who noted Blue Mountain also educates the community on strokes both on its website, as well as with health fairs."We think it's very important for the community that they know they are in very good hands at either campus."Patzek said it's extremely crucial if someone thinks they are having a stroke to call 911 immediately.Risk factors that increase the chance for a stroke are heart disease, especially hypertension and elevated cholesterol, diabetes and smoking.People ages 60-80 are the most common, but they are seeing younger ones as well.She said 60 percent are women, and hypertension is the number one risk factor for the community.There is a crucial six-hour window of time for patients to get the clot-busting drug tPA, which quickly dissolves the clots that cause many strokes.Most of the stroke patients who come into Blue Mountain arrive as walk-ins or by car, she said.Ambulances cannot bring a patient with a stroke to a hospital that is not certified.Since Blue Mountain got its certification, they have treated about 200 patients, Patzek said.She said both hospitals of the Blue Mountain Health System qualify for the American Heart Association "Bronze" Award for their stroke performance metrics.The award ceremony will take place in May.