Polk County Health Partners Asking Patients and Visitors to Wear Masks and Call 911 for Heart Attacks or Strokes

(Des Moines, IA) – The Polk County Medical Coordination Center is asking all patients and visitors who are coming into hospitals and clinics to wear masks or homemade face cloths for appointments or visiting patients. This proactive measure is to reduce potential exposure of infectious individuals with COVID-19 to others.

Facemasks and cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, on anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

If you are able to donate homemade cloth masks to our hospital and clinic partners, please visit our website at Polk County Health Department for drop off locations and times.

In addition, the Polk County Medical Coordination Center is also reminding the community if you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of cardiac arrest or stroke: do not hesitate to call 911 or come to the emergency department. Emergency departments in the metro are designed to keep COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients in separate areas. Each facility is fully equipped to provide care for all patients in all situations.

The following are symptoms of a heart attack or stroke:

Heart Attack

Chest Pain
Difficulty Breathing
Discomfort in chest, arms, back, neck shoulder or jaw

Stroke

Weakness, numbness or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially if its only on one side
Trouble speaking, understanding others or confusion
Loss of balance

For COVID-19 information, please visit the Polk County Health Department’s COVID-19 website.

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