Alstom Services unit in Spain, certified as a “Brain-protected” company by the Stopping Stroke Foundation
Alstom Services unit in Spain, certified as a “Brain-protected” company by the Stopping Stroke Foundation
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Alstom in Spain's Services employees have been trained to recognise, alert and activate the Brain Stroke protocol
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Immediate action is key to reduce the mortality rate and minimise the sequelae associated with stroke
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One in four people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. Stroke is currently the leading cause of acquired disability in adults and the second leading cause of death (first in women)
The Fundación Freno al Ictus (Stopping Stroke Foundation) has certified the Alstom in Spain Services unit as a “Brain-protected” company. This distinction confirms that Alstom, a world leader in sustainable and smart mobility, has a significant number of employees at its Services sites in Madrid and Barcelona who are trained to respond effectively in the event of someone suffering a stroke in its facilities.
"The well-being of our employees, collaborators and partners is a priority for the company and one of our corporate social responsibility strategy pillars."
Antonio Rodríguez, Managing Director for the Services unit in Spain and Portugal highlighted the importance of the project: "The well-being of our employees, collaborators and partners is a priority for the company and one of our corporate social responsibility strategy pillars. Training in stroke warning and prevention techniques, alongside awareness campaigns, has also helped us to raise awareness of a disease that can affect one in four people in their lifetime".
The collaborative project between Alstom in Spain and Freno al Ictus Foundation involved, in its initial phase, the online training of 214 employees from various different sites in Madrid and Barcelona. By being the first to alert and activate the stroke protocol, these employees will be able to make a significant difference in their environment. In the next phases, the company aims to continue the training in the rest of the business units and sites in Spain.
In 2019, Alstom in Spain also received the "Brain Caring People" distinction, which recognises the company's commitment to raising employee awareness of the importance of stroke prevention and detection.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when there's an interruption in blood flow to a specific area of the brain, often resulting in a considerable impact on the patient's life quality. Statistics suggest that approximately one out of every four people may experience a stroke at some point in their lives. Currently, strokes are the primary cause of acquired disability in adults and the second most common cause of death among women.
Every year, around 120,000 people in Spain are affected by this disease, which results in a high percentage of deaths or severe disabilities. According to the Spanish Society of Neurology, in less than 15 years the number of stroke cases will increase by 35%. If no preventive measures are taken, Europe as a whole is expected to see a 45% increase in stroke deaths and a 25% increase in the number of disabled survivors over the next 10 years.
That is why immediate action and training are essential. Only then will people be able to recognise the warning signs of this disease, signs that often go unnoticed due to a lack of knowledge among the population.
In this context, the President of the Fundación Freno al Ictus, Julio Agredano, highlighted the time-dependent nature of this disease and stressed that speed of response is essential to reduce its mortality rate and minimise its sequelae. He also stressed that this certificate represents an important step forward in the fight against stroke.
