The Stand
Free “Think F.A.S.T.” Stroke Education Seminar May 8 at Beauchamp Library
May is Stroke Awareness Month and Crouse Hospital has partnered with 100 Black Men of Syracuse and Beauchamp Library to teach our community how to recognize, treat and prevent strokes. A free education seminar is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Beauchamp Library, 211 S. Salina St.
The event is open to the public, but pre-registration is requested and can be made by calling 472-2464. Food and refreshments will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m., and free parking is available at the library and across the street at Key Bank.
The presentation will be made by members of the Crouse Hospital Stroke Center team, and will focus on what you can do to avoid a stroke and how to think F.A.S.T. to survive.
The acronym F.A.S.T. is an easy way to learn the signs of a stroke as follows:
- Face – Ask the person to smile; does one side of the face droop?
- Arms – Can the person only lift one arm?
- Speech – Is the person’s speech slurred or garbled?
- Time – Strokes come on quickly, so call 911 immediately. Don’t drive the person or yourself.
As a follow-up to the presentation, on Saturday May 19, Crouse Hospital will provide a free stroke/heart health screening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beauchamp Library.
Each evaluation includes readings for total cholesterol and glucose levels, as well as a blood pressure reading and a personal risk profile. No fasting is required. Results are received in approximately 15 minutes and are reviewed with a Crouse Hospital healthcare provider. Screenings are for adults 18 and older, and are not effective for women who are pregnant or nursing.
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the number four cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. It kills more than 133,000 people each year. Plus African-Americans are at increased risk of stroke due to their higher prevalence of risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and previous heart attack and/or stroke.
Crouse Hospital is a New York designated Stroke Center and has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver-Plus Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.
— Write-up provided by Charles Anderson, VP of Administration & Chair, Health and Wellness Committee for 100 Black Men of Syracuse
